"Change Keeps Coming" Acts 15: 1-35

We continue working our way through significant moments in Acts.

Witherington (The Acts of the Apostles: A  Socio-Rhetorical Commentary, Ben Witherington) argues that Chapter 15 is the most crucial chapter in the book of Acts (439), both in its structure and theology.  This scene is the last appearance of Peter.
            a.    At stake is what "constitutes the people of God and how the major ethnic division in the church (Jew/Gentile) shall be dealt with so that both groups may be included in one" (Witheringtton, 439).
            b.  "Luke is eager to demonstrate that ethnic divisions could be and were overcome" (Witherington, 439).

There has been a lot of scholarly work done on the relationship between Galatians 2 and Acts 15.  not sure if I'm going to get into that explicitly in the sermon.

The pattern of gathering together to hear speeches that make their arguments is consistent with how conflict would have been resolved in antiquity (Witherington (450).

In vs. 12 Barnabas and Paul speak.  Their basic argument (it's not really an argument) is to tell what God has been doing through them among the Gentiles.

Witherington argues that we should interpret the prohibitions suggested in the context of Gentiles and Jews meeting at the Temple, since that is the likely place for the two groups to interact (462).   I've been thinking about the difference between mandating certain behavior to be a part of a group and writing to them to ask that they abstain from certain practices.

I am reminded of being the guest preacher at a church and talking to one of the older members about the church's history.  It had been a new church development in the 50s and then struggled in the next few decades and had reached its point where it was a small church with an uncertain future. He proudly told me about the way he had led the resistance to any changes through the years.  He never connected his resistance and the dying of any future for the church.

How much does the Jerusalem Council feel like a an annual meeting, presbytery meeting, or General
Assembly meeting?

Not sure yet what the preachable moment (Gospel) is in this text.