Acts chapter 15

vs 1

Ok, I'm getting my map for this one, because there is no way in my understanding of the geography that you can go down from Judea to Antioch...

And my atlas, and my commentary, have nothing to say on the matter. Which is just rude, really. Let's assume that if you believe the world is upside down, Jerusalem's on top or something :P

One thing I did learn from reading FF Bruce on the matter was that he happily fits in this episode with the visit of "men from James" from Galatians. Interesting. That would mean that this judaising influence was 1) spreading out from Judea in the first instance, 2) from an apostle/brother of Jesus (although it can be argued that the judaisers were stepping over their bounds in saying this stuff, and that it wasn't instructed from the top), 3) and was reaching more places than just Antioch in Syria (getting to Galatia at least).

vs 2

I hate to say it, but, there is an obvious lack of independence here among the early churches. Brethren are wrong. This is, at the very least interdependence, at the most, heirarchy. The language leads me to column b.

vs 3

I was a little surprised at this - it's almost like they are drumming up support on their way to Jerusalem. You would think that, if there was a dispute between two parties, that they would both be quiet about the issue until they had time to spell out their differences and come to a conclusion. But no, along the way they visit churches, discuss how the gentiles are so freely coming to faith, and move on. But these churches were happy to hear the news, so that's good.

vs 4

Ok, so before we think there was some serious bad blood here, notice that they were warmly welcomed, and asked to report on all their mission trip.

vs 5

Bloody Pharisees. My response would have been "Go kill Jesus, ya losers". Thankfully I wasn't there. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say that, after the report of successful missionary journey from B & P, these people stood up and asked with a spirit of inquiry.

vs 6

We just read over this. But this chapter of Acts, chapter 15, is THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTER of the book. I daresay that the Jerusalem Council was the most important meeting the church has ever had. More important than the Council of Nicea.

Why? Because without this meeting, we could still all be following the laws of Moses, and chopping bits off our wiener. And to be honest, we probably wouldn't be. Judaism never really grew. It required too much transformation of action for the sake of cultural identity. Christianity at its earliest stages required people to have their lives transformed by Christ, not to fit some sort of religious mould, but to be godly.

vs 7

That's right - Peter was the person who initiated gospel witness to the gentiles, not Paul.

vs 8

Jews and gentiles get the same Holy Spirit, as Paul will become fond of saying from this point onward.

vs 9

Because, of course, Jews were already pure :P But there is no discrimination. No habitual uncleanness of the gentiles, as had been believed for, well, thousands of years.

vs 10

Now if you read Galatians, you would see that Paul had something like this to say to Peter. If we assume that was before the Jerusalem Council (which to me seems quite clear) then Peter has obviously been rebuked, changed heart, and is making this point clear to the Jerusalem apostles.

After all, what difference does it make if gentiles are forced to follow the Jewish law, if Jews don't really follow it anyway?