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When Jesus was crucified, the disciples were afraid and were hiding
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples are still hiding but they are not as afraid anymore
Jesus appears to the disciples and tells them that He will return (Ascend) to the Father but that He is going to be sending the Holy Spirit.
10 days after the Ascension, the disciples gathered for Shavuot (Jewish Pentecost)
oTo commemorate Moses’ reception of the Ten Commandments
They are celebrating Shavuot when, suddenly:o A violent wind blew
through the roomo Tongues of fire
appeared above their heads
o All were filled with the Holy Spirit
o All began to speak other languages (in tongues)
o The disciples experienced first hand the power of God – Holy Spirit
Result of this experience: the disciples …oKnew that God was calling them to a special missionoWere no longer afraid of persecution or death.oRenewed their identity as followers of Jesus – The Way
oEvent known as the Birthday of the Church (Christianity)
Even though the followers of Christ were baptized in his name, they still saw themselves as “Jews”. Worshipped in temple,
synagogue, and homes Many Gentiles are
converting to The Way Problem:
› Worship idols› Eat meat› Pagan customs
Jews(Christians) want Gentiles to become Jews› Circumcision
Sign of the covenant Chosen people
On the way from Lydda to Joppa (north & west of Jerusalem)
Has a vision of food› Lowered on a sheet
are all kinds of foods: all sorts of “four footed animals and birds of the air” Unclean animals (see
Lev.)
› A voice tells him to kill and eat them
› God makes them pure
Peter learns from his dream that God has no favorites
Peter explains his vision to the disciples
Peter has also witnessed the Holy Spirit coming down upon all Gentiles
Most of the disciples accept Peter’s testimony
Council of Jerusalem: the issue of Circumcision continues
› Certain followers of the Way, Certain followers of the Way, who were Pharisees, said, who were Pharisees, said, “Unless you are circumcised “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1)saved.” (Acts 15:1)
› Disciples now had to address Disciples now had to address the problem head on:the problem head on: Should Gentiles become Should Gentiles become
Jewish in order to be Jewish in order to be Christian?Christian?
› The council of Jerusalem The council of Jerusalem allowed the church leaders to allowed the church leaders to voice their opinions.voice their opinions.
Council of Jerusalem cont.
What was said: What was said: Peter argued:
God gave the gentiles the Holy Spirit
Their hearts were cleanThey only need to have faith
in Jesus, no other rulesPaul and Barnabas testified
to the miracles and healing they had done among gentiles
James decidedGentiles OK w/out
circumcision & Mosaic Law but
They must abstain fromEating food sacrificed to
idols (Geek or Roman gods)FornicationEating meat not killed in a
kosher way: “strangled”Eating the blood of an
animal
Council of Jerusalem: the Sequel
All settled?All settled?Well…..Well…..
Certain followers of the Way Certain followers of the Way in Jerusalem still insisted in Jerusalem still insisted that all Gentilesthat all Gentiles
• be circumcised and be circumcised and • keep the 613 Laws keep the 613 Laws
of Moses of Moses
Jerusalem Church very Conservative. › Strong Jewish-Christian identity. › Gentile converts expected to attend
synagogue, study Torah, and be Jewish – like the rest of the Christians
For them, being “Christian” means being Jewish.
Different from Jerusalem:› Very accepting of Gentiles from the
beginning “God Fearers” in the Synagogues “God Fearers” refers to Gentiles who have
converted to Christianity but have not become Jews- no circumcision
Gentile Converts accepted “As Is”› 1st community to use the name
“Christian”