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St. Luke’s Institute
Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
May 2, 2013
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The Church’s first council keeps the Gentiles in
communion w/ already converted Jewish believers
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1st, Peter stands up & recalls
his experience w/ Gentiles, referring to conversion of Cornelius & how
Peter realized that Gentiles like “us” Jews, are saved by favor or grace of
Lord Jesus
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This approval of the Gentile mission is last we
hear from Peter in Acts
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Next, Paul & Barnabas recount how God used
them to work wonders & signs among Gentiles
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Finally, a new voice is heard / James issues a
decree stipulating that Gentile converts ought to practice same minimal
requirements as rabbis placed on “proselytes and sojourners”
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Implicit in this decision is the idea that such
requirements would not be a burden to Gentile converts and would have already
been known and probably practiced by them if they associated with members of
the synagogue
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James’ intention here seems to be to make it
possible for Jews and Gentiles to maintain table fellowship with one another
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Luke gives great importance to this Jerusalem
meeting for numerous reasons
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More significant than the actual content of the
compromise is the way in which it was reached
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Peter, Paul, and Barnabas speak authoritatively,
but as witnesses, not as dictating the decision
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James quotes Scripture and reinterprets Am in
the light of God’s actions among the Gentiles, noting that the prophets agree
with this
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The Spirit is at work in the conflict and
dissension, in the process of discernment, as well as the resolution, revealing
the living God speaking to a new moment in the Church
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When the issue of requirements for salvation is
raised, there can be no distinction between Jews and Gentiles
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All are saved by the favor of the Lord Jesus
