The Brinkley argus., 1909-05-21
THE COUNCIL AT.
 JERUSALEM sosay sehssl lssssa f~ May a, ises
 spssiaIb Ar1snssd for This Paper

Spes1al6 Auansed for This psper
 LESSON TEXT.-Acts is:1-S. Memory verses g, a.
 GOLDEN TExT-'we believe that through the grace of the Lord we shall De saved, even IS they."-Acts ls:ll.
 TIME.-About 50 A. D., as Is commonly agreed. though various scholars place it earlier
 PLACE.--Antioch in Syria, and Jerusa- lem.
 Suggestion and Practical Thoucht.
 V. l. Certain men, perhaps those sent by James Gal 2: 12) "came down from Judea." The Bezan 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; at 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 Lcrd Jesus Christ. and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31)."-Rackham.
 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 in Asia Minor. It was rapidly growing, especially among the Gentiles. The difference that had arisen set off against each other the two great centers of growth, Jerusa I'm and Antioch. It threatened to di vide the Christian churches into twe ccntending and irreconcilable fac tions. If that happened, 1t woult probably be the deathblow to the young religion, the destruction of the hopes of the world through Christ Could any matter be more momen tous?
 V. 2. They (''the brethren" v. D determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them (includ!nr Titus, Gal. 3: 1, afterward Paul's com panion, Greek, man of much abil ity, who would serve as a specimen of the Gentle converts), should go uI to Jerusalem (SO0 miles away) abou! this question:" Paul went "by revela tion" Gal. 2: 9, which is entirely consistent with the statement that tho church sent him.
 After much debate, that everyone might express his views, as is proper in democratic assembly such as all Christian gatherings should be, Peter spoke up. His nearness to Christ and his strong character combined tc make him leader. Moreover, in this case he Had had personal experience which placed him on Paul's side-the divine revelation bidding him go to the Gentle Cornelius. and the <outpour- ing of the Spirit upon that convert and his household. It was precisely such witness to the right of the Gen. tiles to enter the church without cir cumc;sion as Paul himself described from his missionary experience. Peter insisted upon 1t with characteristic vigor, closing with the pointed ques
 
 tfon, Why Z. aput q yoke upon the neck of the (Gentile) Ndisciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear ?"-the yoke being the minute oppressive rites of Juda ism, with the Pharisaic additions, i'm. posed as condition of salvation There is only one condition of salva- ton, said Peter in conclusion, ,-"the grace (the free gift, unbought by any deed of ours) of the Lord Jesus Christ" As Peter sat down, Paul must have clapped his hands!
 The decision embodied in letter: CD To clarify and unify judgment in the preparation of 1t; (2) to guard against slips of memory on the part of the envoys; (3) to prevent misun- derstandings; (D to preserve for flu ture occasions the results of the con- ference. Capt. Cuttle's advice, "When found, make note on,' applies to all weighty matters.
 The reasons for the restrictions: :: 1. The "pollutions of idols" (v. 20), 0XpldlNeu us HlcdtS UAcISu tO iuoiS (y. 29), came to be a sore trouble in the church, and liberty to eat such meat s(the meat commonly sold had nearly all formed part of sacrifices) was at later time claimed for Chris tians very strenuously by Paul. But until the Gentle churches were con firmed in their new separation from idolatry, it was wise to require them to abstain from whatever might tempt them with memories of the licentious revels which heathenism celebrated in the name of religion.
 2. "Fornication," however, was the great sin of idolatry, which "glorifled sexual vice with the halo of . sacred sanction ."-echaff. Courtesans were