Acts 15

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Robert Eisenman believed those certain men were James the Just and his followers based on his interpretation of the Dead Sea scrolls. Eisenman sees the 4QMMT (Halakhic Letter)[1] from Cave 4 of the Quamran as a parallel to the teachings of James and what some call the Ebionite Jesus movement. He identifies the Teacher of righteousness as James the Just and Paul as the false teacher or "wicked priest" or spouter of lies who says we are to love our enemy.
An alternate view has been that John the Baptist was the righteous teacher and some will say Jesus was a false teacher. The conflicts would be similar in nature in both cases.
Some others put the date of the writings as much earlier through Paleography but I would think not this letter calculation.
Those who remained in the Dead Sea scroll community saw this false teacher as an enemy.
Eisenman depends on the recognitions of Clementine for his analysis. He sees Clement as the second or third Pope after Peter who supposedly did not give a good account of Paul who is only identified as the hostile enemy compared to James the Just.
Professor Charlesworth sees Paul as removing the 600+ laws of the Torah from the Ebionite Jesus movement.
It should be clear that Jesus and Paul as well as Peter and James only removed the false teachings of the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Zealots about the nature of the statutes of Moses.
Did the statutes require circumcision of the flesh or the heart, no leaven of yeast or of oppression?
Did Jesus come to free the land that men walk on or free the men who walk upon the land according to the Perfect law of liberty which brings freedom?
Didn't Jesus say that all laws hinge on two?
Were the 613 statutes merely written judgements jumpstarting a list of precedents for the people's courts set up by Moses.
It is understanding Circumcised of the heart, the Holy Spirit along with verse 20 will be key
V20 "But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols[2], and from fornication[3], and from things strangled[4], and from blood."[5]
idols has to do with idolatry[2] and idolatry is covetous practices which makes men merchandise and will require men who exercise authority one over the other.
And fornication[3] would be inclusive adultery which began to involve whoredom and Harlots and their systems like Corban which is also a part of that covetousness.
Things strangled[4] includes the use of force to choke the life out of someone by force instead of faith that is included in freewill offerings and charity.
The same is true of eating meat with blood."[5]
Questions

Of the flesh or the heart

1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Sect of the Pharisees

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Came together

6 ¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

The Ghost in the Heart through silence

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

James answered

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:[6]

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

No Idolatry fornication strangling and blood

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols[2], and from fornication[3], and from things strangled[4], and from blood.[5]

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

It pleased

22 ¶ Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Necessary burdens

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden[7] than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats[8] offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Contention at work

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 ¶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.


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  1. The preliminary text was published as 4QMishnique but finally designated as Miqsat Ma’ase ha-Torah or 4QMMT, translated "Some Precepts of the Torah" or "Some Rulings Pertaining to the Torah"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Covetousness is idolatry
    Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
    Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
    1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fornication, adultery and idolatry
    Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
    Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
    1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
    Psalms 106:38 And shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
    Ezekiel 16:36 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;
    Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, [even] from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words;
    Proverbs 20:16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Strangled or with blood
    “‭19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: ‭20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” Acts 15:19-20
    “‭28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; ‭29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:28-29
    “‭25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.” Acts 21:25
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Meat and Blood
    Genesis 9:4 "But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat."
    Leviticus 17:10 "And whatsoever man [there be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul. 12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. 13 And whatsoever man [there be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. 14 For [it is] the life of all flesh; the blood of it [is] for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh [is] the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off."
    Leviticus 19:26 "Ye shall not eat [any thing] with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times."
    Deuteronomy 12:23 "Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood [is] the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. 24 Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water. 25 Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do [that which is] right in the sight of the LORD. 26 Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose: 27 And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh."
    Micah 3:5 "Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him."
    Habakkuk 2:7 "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?"
    Galatians 5:15 "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."
  6. Amos 9:11 "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:"
  7. My burden
    Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light."
    Proverbs 3:17 "Her (wisdom... more precious than rubies.) ways [are] ways of pleasantness, and all her paths(netîbōwtehā) [are] peace(07965)."
    Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;"
    Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
    1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
    2 Corinthians 12:10 "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
    Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
  8. 1033 ~βρῶμα~ broma \@bro’-mah\@ from the base of 977; TDNT-1:642,111; {See TDNT 147} n n AV-meat 16, victual 1; 17
    1) that which is eaten, food
    • It is also a shipworm (Teredo navalis) that bores into wooden piers, ships, etc. and in (dentistry) it can mean a cavity.