The Sunday School by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 6, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 18.

The Sunday School

By Editor

International Series.

LESSON VIII.—SUNDAY, MAY 23, 1897.

THE CONFERENCE AT JERUSALEM.

NOTE.—A comprehensive idea may be secured of the whole question which was under discussion in this conference at Jerusalem by reading the entire chapter as far as verse 37. This was one of the most critical times in the history of the early church. A great question had come up, which seemed likely to sever the two factions of the church, the Jews and the Gentiles. The question arose as a natural consequence of the broadening and developing process which had been going on in the church's life thus far. One of the principles of true Christianity is here shown in the conduct of the members. They determined to stand by the truth, even tho it showed them to be in the wrong, and to abandon error as soon as they knew it to be such. The time of this lesson is generally conceded to be about A.D. 50, and the church has been in existence about twenty years, having extended over Palestine, Phenicia, Damascus, Antioch, Cyprus, and South Galatia. For a further account of the conference read Gal. 2:1-10.

Lesson Scripture Acts 15:1-6; 22-29, R. V.

"And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye can not be saved. And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses." "And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter." "Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren; and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elder brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols; and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well."

Golden Text.—"Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." Acts 15:11.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What teachers besides Paul and Barnabas now appeared at Antioch? Verse 1, first part. (2) What was the doctrine taught by these men? Ib., last part. Note 1. (3) Who met the new teachers in the discussion of this question? Verse 2, first part. (4) What action was taken in reference to the matter? Ib., last part. (5) Through what countries did they pass, and in what were they occupied on the journey? Verse 3, first part. Note 3. (6) What effect did their testimonies have upon the believing brethren in these places? Ib., last clause. (7) How were they met at Jerusalem? Verse 4, first part. Note 5. (8) What account did the apostles at once give of themselves? Ib., last clause. Note 4. (9) What similar opposition did they meet here? Verse 5. (10) In view of this dissension, what action was taken by the church? Verse 6. (11) After the discussion and decision of the question, what further action did the church take? Verse 22, first part. Note 5. (12) Who were the men thus chosen? Ib., last part. (13) What did the church do that there might be no misunderstanding of its attitude? Verse 23. (14) What word did they say had come to them? Verse 24, first part. (15) How did the church deny its responsibility for these erroneous teachings? Ib., last clause. (16) What action did this state of affairs seem to necessitate? Verse 25. (17) What fitting tribute did they pay to the work of Paul and Barnabas? Verse 26. (18) What was the mission of Paul and Silas? Verse 27. (19) What burdens only did it seem good to lay upon the Gentile converts to Christianity? Verses 28 and 29. Note 6.

NOTES.

1. Except ye be circumcised.—The only salvation which the Lord offers sinful men—Jew or Gentile—is by faith. So Peter says to the Jews in speaking of the Gentiles, "And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." Verse 9. When, therefore, the men from Judea said that the Gentile Christians must be circumcised, they were preaching another gospel, the gospel of the works of the flesh, which made the Gospel of Christ of none effect. For if after Christ had justified them by faith they went back to the works of the flesh for justification, Christ should profit them nothing. Gal. 5:2-4. A man might be circumcised if he wished; that made no difference either way unless he did it to be saved from sin; then the circumcision took the place of Christ, and left the individual in his sins, under the "yoke of bondage." It was the circumcision in the spirit, and of the heart, and not in the letter, that was necessary to salvation, and this came only by faith in Christ. The mere carrying out of the form without the renewing of the heart had nothing of redemption in it.

2. PAUL'S devotion to his work is here shown in its true light. He with others was on his way to Jerusalem to discuss a difficult problem, and one which was of vital importance to the work he had been doing; but in the midst of it all, the work of exhorting, teaching, and establishing in the faith, seems to have been uppermost in his mind.

3. Received of the church.—The word here translated "were received" means more than a mere formal reception. It implies a cordial, affectionate reception.

4. They rehearsed all things, etc.—Paul had been sent out particularly to the Gentiles, and he begins at once to give a report of himself and his work in the mission that had been assigned to him. Paul had once been a persecutor of God's people, but he had become one of God's humblest followers; he had been one of the strictest of the Jews, but had now come to be the boldest and most ardent advocate of the cause of the Gentiles.

5. With the whole church.—A united church, because the truth is one. Personal opinions, individual views, had been laid aside, and all had come into that perfect harmony which should characterize those who have the love of the truth. The church was unanimous in the instruction sent out to the brethren at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

6. Meats offered to idols.—Sacrifices were very common in the religions of Greece and Rome, as also with the heathen nations whose history is contemporaneous with that of the Jews. A portion of the meat was taken to the altar and burned, and the rest was eaten at home or at their numerous feasts. God would have his people discountenance all forms of idolatry or things appertaining thereto. And from blood.—The eating or drinking of blood was forbidden by the Levitical laws, but it was eaten in various forms by the Gentiles, who considered it a delicacy. It was also a symbol of life, and so had a moral significance. And from things strangled.—It was likewise against the law to eat any animal killed in this way, for the reason that the blood remained in the animal. And from fornication.—This was said to have been the "peculiar and besetting sin of the Gentile converts." It was not regarded as wrong by them; in fact, it was a part of their worship before becoming Christians, and not far from Antioch was situated the pleasure grove of Daphne. But the law of God was very strict on the point of chastity, and it was the duty of the Christians at Jerusalem to instruct their Gentile converts in such important matters as these, at the same time that they exempted them from the rite of circumcision, the significance of which had passed away.