1 - Some believers, also of the Judean faith, came down to Antioch from Jerusalem, and were troubling the believers by saying all gentile (non Hebrew/Israel) brothers had to be circumcised according to the law given by Moses. 2 Paul and Barnabas and others strongly disagreed, and the argument had been raging on (so to speak). So the group decided to send Paul and Barnabas and six other brothers to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles there. 3 As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the people how gentiles were receiving the message, and were turning to God. This was making everybody happy. 4 When they got to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders. So they told them about all that had happened among the gentiles. 5 But some Pharisees of Jerusalem who had become followers of the Lord, stood up and said, "Gentile believers in the Lord must be circumcised and told they must keep [tΓ©reΓ³ - to watch over, to guard, from tΔros - a guard] (focus on?) the Law of Moses." (Whereas believers/followers focus on the grace/not earned kindness of God. That’s our only acceptable stand before Him. Totally for our good and benefit, as being not perfect, but imperfect (being hamartians, lol) we cannot make ourselves “perfect”. At first this seems a bad requirement, to be perfect! The ‘problem’ is, God is Life (surely?) the life force itself, and, he “is perfect”. So imperfect is the opposite of life. And obviously imperfection is also an abyss of potential. A fitting thought for Oct.31, when I’m doing this study. When we put ourselves in God’s hands, well he knows our highest blueprint. And the Scripture says we will be like Jesus. Jesus is called “forever first/proto”, the prototype! I emphasize he is “forever first” because sometimes there’s doctrines afloat that make it sound like we (humanity, or is it those who by a lucky shake of God’s dice are chosen to believe during this lifetime?) will be equal to Jesus or even the Father! Don’t they remember who first said “I will ascend”.. We definitely have to be on our toes as to doctrine! Some of it is very subtle.. A tapestry weaved with almost all true threads, with just one false thread that changes the whole thing. π€I guess that’s what the mistranslations are too.. Talk about misinformation! It’s everywhere!) (I have decided to throw caution to the wind and put parenthesis within parentheses.π€)
6 So the apostles and elders gathered to talk the matter over. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and said, “Brothers you know that a while back God chose to send me to the gentiles with his message, that they might hear the good news and believe. 8 And God - who knows the heart - showed His approval - by giving to them the Holy Spirit, just as He had to us. 9 He made no difference between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 So why would we try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way! By the undeserved grace of God, through the Lord Jesus.”
12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them, while they were among the Gentiles. 13 When they had finished speaking, James said, “Brothers, listen to me!” (Note: James is the one who wrote “faith without works is dead” - as there’s bound to be changes and good fruit, etc.) 14 James continued, “Simon Peter has told us how God visited [episkeptomai - visited, selected] to take out of the gentiles, people for his name.” (This is the same wording used in ancient Old Testament days, about Israel. And now in Jesus, Hebrew and Gentile “are one”. Are brothers. One day all humanity will belong to “the commonwealth of Israel”.) 15 “And the words of the prophets agree, as is written, 16 ‘After these things I will return and rebuild the tabernacle/tent of David which has fallen down, but the ruins of it I will build again and set it on its feet/make it stand. 17 So the remainder of mankind may seek the Lord and all the gentiles/nations, called by my name” (all are his children) “says the LORD, doing these things. 18 From eternity God knows everything about all his works. 19 Therefor I judge it best not to trouble the gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and the sexual immorality, and from food from a strangled animal and from blood. 21 For a long time, after all, Moses is read every Sabbath in every city.”
The Ten Commandments For Happiness and Healthy and Peaceful Society:
1. no other ‘gods’
2. don’t make images or idols and worship them (THE big thing in the middle east ancient days)
3. don’t swear to things in God’s name if you don’t genuinely mean it
4. Take the day of rest, ESPECIALLY for those you employ, in household, field or world, even animals [#1 through 4, summed as “Love God”. THE law of Life for Happiness, etc.]
5. honor your father and mother
6. do not murder
7. be faithful in marriage
8. do not steal
9. do not lie about or bear false witness/testimony against another
10. do not covet/desire after your fellow persons house, property, etc. or spouse [#5 through 10, summed up in “love (have genuine affection for) your fellow person as much as you love yourself”] — Moses also, by “inspiration of God” wrote health laws.. like circumcision, no pork, etc, this was long before antibiotics fed to them, and strict quarantine laws. At Mt. Sinai they took a blood oath with God.. And NO other nation or especially race, would have done any better. The law was given as a guide and tutor, and to separate Israel as ‘swaddling cloths’ for Messiah/Savior of the world. Who was executed by leaders, according to GOD’s secret plan. Because it is strong enough to appease, ultimately, every delicate psyche and even the worst of guilty consciences. And is a blood Oath. And God doesn’t swear an oath in vain. (Isaiah 45:23 - “I have sworn in my own name” (there’s no higher to swear to) “a vow that will not be broken, that to me every knee will bend, and every tongue will swear” [joyfully] “an oath to Me”. — Which is a Good thing, especially considering God is Life.. the Spirit of Life.. Light.. and Love. If we love darkness, we can pray.
~*~
Very Brief Outline of Acts:
Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).
The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.
The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).
Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.
π
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