Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-05-20
THE COUNCIL AT
JERUSALEM
AAy SrAod Lesson fu May ., 1909
Specially Arranged for Thb Paper


LESSON rExT.-Aots B:i-N Memory
vsesos q -.
GOLDEN TExT.-"we believe that
through tina grace OF the Lord we shall
b saved. even as they."-Acts SILL.
TIME.-About 80 A. D.. as is commonly
agreed. though various scholars place IL
earlier.
PLACB.-Antioch In Syria. and Jerusa-
tsn.
suggestion and Practical Thought.
Y. !. Certain men," perhaps those
sent by James (Gal. 2: 12) came
down from Judea-" The Bean text
says that these visitors were Phari-
sees, members OF the strictest sect of
the Jews. Perhaps they came to In
vestigate rumors of laxity In the
church; az any rate. they taught the
brethren" (the verb is In the imper-
feet, implying continued action.-they
kept teaching). "and said. Except ye
be circumcised ye cannot be
saved" "A very different doctrine
from st. Pauls' Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ. and thou shalt be saved
(Acts 70: )."-Rackham. y
The Importance of the Question:
The Christian church, during It's first
20 years, had spread over Palestine,
Phoenicia, Damascus, Antioch. Cyprus
and South Galatia I'm Asia Minor. II
was rapidly growing, especially among
the Gentiles. The difference that had
arisen set of against each other the
two great centers OF growth, Jerusa-
I'm and Antioch. II threatened to d.
vide the Christian churches Into two
contending and irreconcilable fac
tons. II that happened, II would
probably be the deathblow to the
young religion, the destruction OF the
hopes Of the world through Christ
Could any matter be more momen.
tousf
VI They ("the brethren" v. u
determined that Paul and Barnabas,
md certaip other Of them Cncluding
Titus, Gal D. 4, afterward Paul's COM
psnfon, o 0feeh. a man OF much abil
fep Who would serve as o specimen
u the Gentle converts). should go up
10 Jerusalem GOO miles away about
thfs Question" Paul went "by revela-
dom" GOAL .: y. which Is entirely
consistent with the statement that the
church sent him.
After much debate, that everyone
might express his views. as is proper
IA . dv1nocratic assembly such as all
Christian gatherings should be, Peter
spoke up. HIS nearness to Christ and
Ais strong character combined to
nahe him header. Moreover. in this
o1se be had had personal experience
vhfco placed him on Pauls side-the
divine revelation bidding him go TO
the Gentle Cornelius. and the outpour-
ing q the Spirit upon that convert
and his household. II was precisely
such witness 70 the right OF the Gen.
tles 30 enter the church without cir
onmosion rs Paul himself described
insisted upon II with characteristic
vfsos. closing With the pointed Ques-
ton Why put q yoke upon
tho neck Of the (Gentile) disciples,
which neither our fathers nor we
we're able 20 bear THE yoke being
The minute oppressive rites OF Juda-
Am. With the Pharisaic additions, I'm
posed a. condition OF salvation.
There n only one condition OF saliva
don. said Peter IN conclusion,-"the
sraoe tthe free gift, unbought by any
deed q ours) Of the Lord Jesus
Chrfst- AS Peter sat down. Paul
most have ciapped his hands!
AA l,1 foNo
~ To clarity and unity Judgment In
ne preparation Of t.: (2) TO guard
against slips of memory on the part
a the ENJOYS: (9) TO prevent misun-
derstandings, t4) TO preserve for fu-
ture occasions the results of the con-
ference. Capt Cuttle's advice. when
eound. make o note on applies to all
vsighty matters.
Yhe reasons for the restrictions.
4 The "poTiutions Of idols" ". 20).
explained as meats offered to idols"
". fg), came TO be q sore trouble in
tho church, and liberty TO eat such
meal tthe meat commonly sold had
nearly all formed part of sacriices)
vas az q later time claimed for Chris
dans very strenuousiy by Paul But
until the Gentle churches were con-
ormed IN their new separation from
n was wise 20 require them
Do abstain from whatever might tempt
them With memories Of the iicentious
vcvefs which heathenism celebrated
IN the name of religion.
.. "Tornication." however, was the
great sin Of fdoiatry. which "glorified
seruHi vice with the halo Of a sacred
psaction. "-6chaf. Oourtezans were
M priestessee o. the temples OF We
nus. and crowds Of abandoned women
gathered around most Of these 90
ysiicd holy shrines. To this day, sex
nal immortality Is the terrible sin OF |
ldolatry. as the missionary annals of
Africa. India, China, Japan and the |
South seas most abundantly show.
.. Things strangled." meant "the
desh q such animals as were killed In |
snares. and whose blood was not
poured forth---Gioag. The Jews were
forbidden 20 eat these, as coming un-
auS fho roSuuS vootvfcftns, thax s~ti<~r,.,