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Tag: apostles

Apostles Sent to the Gentiles with a Letter of the Council
Will any of the Twelve travel to Antioch Syria from Jerusalem? Or will the Apostles send their Epistle to the Gentiles with other reliable messengers?
Who are these Apostles to the Gentiles?
Acts 15:
ἀπόστολος – apostolos – apostle
ἔθνος – ethnos
Paul
Barnabas
Judas called Barsabbas
Silas
The Council Adjourns
Acts 15:22b-29 Text of the Council’s Epistle
A.D. 49 – Jerusalem Judea in Roman occupied Syria

Who are these Apostles to the Gentiles?

Recall that the current crisis of the Church involves both Jews and Gentiles and that the Church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to clarify the Law of Moses.

A Council of Church Leaders meets under leadership of the Apostles of Jesus, the risen Christ witnessed my the Twelve and many leading men of Jerusalem.

Epistle from the Council of Jerusalem – Acts 15:20

Acts 15:19-20a – James: Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them..

Acts 15:

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers..

ἀπόστολος – apostolos – apostle

a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders

This is exactly what the Council of Jerusalem has ordered.

in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers
- of Barnabas
- of Timothy
- and Silvanus
They SEND these apostles with their epistle of encouragement and specific instructions to the Church and its other leading men in Antioch, obeying Christ’s command to go into all the world — theirs, a gentile world — with the Gospel.
- ἀπόστολος – Apostle
- a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders
  - specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ
- ἀπόστολος apóstolos, ap-os’-tol-os; from G649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”) (with miraculous powers):—apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
ἔθνος – ethnos

The KJV translates Strong’s G1484 in the following manner: Gentiles (93x), nation (64x), heathen (5x), people (2x).

We have recently spent time on this on Paul’s first missionary journey, but for clarity definitions which apply here:
- in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
- Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians
ACTS on Mission

Paul

The Church is already quite familiar with Saul of Tarsus or Paul; who following his first mission from Antioch to the Gentiles along with Joseph of Cypress (Barnabas) has precipitated this Council in Jerusalem.

In a later Epistle of Paul to the Romans he writes:

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
Letter of Paul to the Romans 11:13-14 ESV

Think about it, my fellow gentile brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. Paul identifies himself as an apostle. The Council sent both Paul and Barnabas as apostles for this next mission to the Gentiles.
2. The Apostle Paul also magnifies his mission is to the Gentiles (although a remnant of Jews will be saved).
On their first missionary journey the Apostle Paul had proclaimed Christ to the Jews first and then preached the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Barnabas

Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

– Acts 4:36-37 ESV

It was Barnabas, a trusted Jew of the priestly line, who brought Paul to the Apostles after his encounter with the risen Christ (and having heard their former nemesis preach Christ crucified and risen to the Jews in Damascus).

When a report came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem after some men of Cyprus and Cyrene spoke to the Hellenists in Antioch (and a great number turned to the Lord), they sent Barnabas to Antioch. – from Acts 11:20

Judas called Barsabbas

Βαρσαβᾶς – Lexicon :: Strong’s G923 – barsabas

Barsabas [or Barsabbas] (i. e. son of Saba)

(Not to be confused with another important disciple and deacon of the church in Jerusalem * possibly also present with its leading men of the Council, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus [Acts 1:23] put forth along with Mathias as a candidate to replace Judas Iscariot in the Twelve Apostles.)

2. the surname of a certain Judas: Acts 15:22, (B. D. under the word Judas Barsabas].

* Could Luke’s wording indicate that both were present & this Barsabbas is Judas son of Saba rather than Joseph son of Saba? (And might they even be biological brothers? [again, my speculation])

Silas

Σιλᾶν – Lexicon :: Strong’s G4609 – silas

Contraction for Σιλουανός (G4610) – Silvanus, the same man who in Acts is called Σιλᾶς (which see): 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12.

Silas or Silvanus is a Roman Citizen (as is Paul) sent with the Apostle to the Gentiles on this second mission and other journeys to preach the Gospel to all the world of the Roman Empire.
A.D. 49 – 51 Secondary Missionary Journey with Paul

The Council Adjourns

Acts 15:22b-29 Text of the Council’s Epistle

They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

23 with the following letter:

“The brothers, both the apostles and the elders,

to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:

that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch…

ACTS of the Apostles TO BE CONTINUED…

in Antioch Syria…

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
January 12, 2023
Epistle from the Council of Jerusalem – Acts 15:20
The Council of Jerusalem has come to a decision. They will write an epistle of instruction to the gentile churches.
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Let's focus for a moment on a HOT TOPIC of A.D. 50 on which future missions of the apostles hinged.

(HOW will JEWS worship with other CULTURES?)

Church leaders ANSWERED with an EPISTLE from their Council in Jerusalem. 
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ἐπιστολή – a written message: — epistle, letter

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:^G1992
Acts of the Apostles 15:30, King James Version

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN AS SOON AS WE MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION IMPACTING EVERYONE?

We send out an epistle or letter or message or broadcast.

AND like any council with authority this council of Church leaders in Jerusalem go back to their followers personally as well. These apostles of the gospel will also send their epistle or letter of instruction with other trusted messengers to churches they cannot encourage personally.
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We're getting a little ahead of today's work of the Jerusalem Council, but I thought it important to DEFINE our term and impact of today's meeting of the Apostles in Jerusalem.
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Lexicon :: Strong’s G1992 – epistolē

– From ἐπιστέλλω (G1989) epistellō –

Outline of Biblical Usage
- to send one a message, command
- to write a letter
- to enjoin by letter, to write instructions
Christians familiar with traditional readings of Scripture from the King James Version recognize an introduction like:

“A reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.”
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The cover letter pictured is an actual parchment of Romans 1:1-7
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Acts of the Apostles 15:30 [above] reads ‘epistle‘ in the KJV.

But most Bibles simply translate it ‘letter.’

You may have seen a similar epistle in Acts 9 where Luke records a previous ‘official letter’ also sent with Paul (aka at that time Saul of Tarsus) from Jerusalem.

Damascus Road: Witness into all the World

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
– Acts of the Apostles 9:1-2 ESV

Christians familiar with the epistles or letters of the New Testament (after Acts) see epistles addressed to an individual church, i.e. Corinth, Ephesus, where these letters were also circulated to churches throughout and beyond those regions.

However this important earlier letter from the Council at Jerusalem was sent to as many churches as possible. And the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem specifically address Gentiles as participants and members.

SO It could have, but was not, named:

The Epistle of the Council of Jerusalem,

TO the Church at Antioch Syria (where it is to be sent) OR due to apostles sent out into all the world:

‘TO the churches of the Gentile Nations.’

Leaders of the Christians in Antioch had requested clarification from the Apostles and leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Most Hellenist or Greek church members were Gentiles rather than Jews of the Diaspora.

Acts 15 – Conclusion of Pastor James

Truth for Gentiles who turn to God

Previously, from ACTS 15:6-19

Do not trouble those turning to God

.. we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
but should write to them
to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:19b-20 ESV

Don’t cause trouble. Do not annoy. Do not harass.
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You get the idea; this is what Saul of Tarsus had planned to do in Damascus with the authority of the Jewish Council to persecute the converted.
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ἐπιστρέφω – Lexicon :: Strong’s G1994 – epistrephō
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transitively, a. to turn to the worship of the true God, 
b. to cause to return, to bring back; figuratively, to the love and obedience of God ..
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Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God [theos] from among the Gentiles ἔθνος [ethnos].

YES, God chose the Jews

BUT why would we want to keep those Gentiles whom the Lord our God has drawn through Christ?

AND WHY add requirements which would hinder Gentiles from turning to God?

SO James adjudicates the matter also addressing the concerns of the Jews.

EXCEPT these practices of Jewish Law
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Here, James adds a requirement for the Gentiles but it is NOT circumcision.
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- abstain from
  - the things polluted by idols
  - sexual immorality
  - what has been strangled
  - [from] blood
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

James .. To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.

A Map [above] shows first century Jewish cities of the Roman Empire to which James refers in an epistle he authored most likely during Paul’s first missionary journey just prior to the Council at Jerusalem.

As you can see, much more communication will be required to cover so many Hellenist cities with Jewish and Christian worshipers.
ἐπιστολή – a written message: — epistle, letter
Acts 15 – Conclusion of Pastor James
Do not trouble those turning to God
EXCEPT these practices of Jewish Law
Scriptural (Old Testament) Reasons for James’ exceptions
Pollutions of idols
Fornication – πορνεία – Lexicon :: Strong’s G4202 – porneia –
Things Strangled – πνικτός pniktós, pnik-tos’
and Blood – αἵματος – αἷμα Lexicon :: Strong’s G129 – haima of man or animals
The Sacrifice of Blood
Leviticus 17: ESV
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Acts 15:20 King James Version — But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
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Scriptural (Old Testament) Reasons for James’ exceptions

Pollutions of idols

– Gen 35:2; Exo 20:3-5,23; Exo 34:15,16; Num 25:2; Psa 106:37-39; Eze 20:30,31;

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I *be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not *be inquired of by you.
Ezra 20:30-31 KJV – *note: Lexicon :: Strong’s H1875 – dāraš

Fornication – πορνεία – Lexicon :: Strong’s G4202 – porneia –
- illicit sexual intercourse
  - adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
  - sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
  - sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11-12
- metaph. the worship of idols
  - of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols
The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of *whoredoms and children of *whoredoms: for the land hath committed great *whoredom, departing from the LORD.
Hosea 1:2 KJV note: *Lexicon :: Strong’s H2183 – zᵊnûnîm
from Lexicon :: Strong’s H2181 – zānâ – A primitive root [highly-fed and therefore wanton]

Things Strangled – πνικτός pniktós, pnik-tos’

from G4155; throttled, i.e. (neuter concretely) an animal choked to death (not bled):—strangled.

and Blood – αἵματος – αἷμα Lexicon :: Strong’s G129 – haima of man or animals
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 καὶ τοῦ αἵματος - "from what has been strangled, and from blood." - ESV is best understood in the context of Leviticus, Book of the Priests, which provides some detail about Sacrifices to God, which Christ became by His own Blood, the flesh of our Lord Jesus pierced for our transgressions.
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The Sacrifice of Blood

Leviticus 17: ESV

וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus) 17 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

1. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

10 “If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls,
for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
Leviticus 17:11 ESV

12 Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.

13 “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.

For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.
Leviticus 17:14 ESV

Letter from the Council

Acts 15:

²²Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas…

To Be Continued…
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.. with the text of their Epistle authorizing apostles for another mission to the Gentiles. 
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January 10, 2023
Through Many Afflictions Saul and Joseph return to Antioch
What afflictions, which tribulations will we suffer for our witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
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~AD 49 - a return journey

[Just a reminder that Paul is a more local name for Saul from Tarsus beyond the imposing Guyik and Taurus mountains and many brothers address Joseph of the island of Cypress by his encouraging nickname, Barnabas.]

  - from remote Derby through Lycaonia to Antioch through Pisidia & Pamphylia to Perga and sailing from Attalia (without returning to Cypress) to their home port in Syria to Antioch.
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Joseph of Cypress and Saul of Tarsus have endured many afflictions for the Gospel, even a stoning of Saul (as he had once witnessed of Stephen in Jerusalem).

Barnabas

You’ll recall that Joseph of Cypress, known to his friends as Βαρναβᾶς or son of encouragement is a very Jewish Levite.

Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement)
Acts of the Apostles 4:36 LSB

Joseph had devoted his life to the Apostles’ teaching and gave them money from selling a field. This highly respected older man from Cypress had brought the feared young and zealous Pharisee Saul to the Apostles vouching for the authenticity of his conversion and teaching since encountering Christ.

Even then he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews, but they were attempting to put him to death.
- Acts of the Apostles 9:29
So the Church at Jerusalem, led by the Apostles, sent Saul off to the Church at Antioch, nearer to Tarsus as well as Cypress.

Barnabas continues mentoring a young Saul of Tarsus known to the Gentiles as Paul.

The Church at Antioch sends them out to Cypress along with Joseph’s nephew John Mark. From there these two apostles proceed to cities and small towns in the Taurus Mountains.
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As a reminder: 
Luke publishes ACTS OF THE APOSTLES in about AD 62 as a historical account for a growing Church.

This FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY of the Apostles PAUL & BARNABAS occurs over several months and many miles in about AD 47-49.
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Another Rising of Saul

Not too many men or women ever suffer the afflictions of Saul OR the miraculous raisings of a man who seems to have been struck down by God and men to persevere in more persecution for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
Acts of the Apostles 9:4-5 LSB

Acts 14 Pursued through Lycaonia

The Jews are divided by Paul’s Gospel of the Messiah Jesus

Acts of the Apostles 14:

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

20 But while the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city.

The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 And after they had proclaimed the gospel to that city and had made many disciples..
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Dr. Luke once again accounts for not only the miracle of Paul's rising after being stoned to death and his battered frame dragged out of Lystra, but again that they 'had made many disciples' of the risen Lord Jesus in Derbe.
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Their Return Journey to Antioch Pisidia

[from Derbe] .. they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples..

The Apostles’ Parting Message:

.. encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying,
“Through many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.”

θλῖψις – Afflictions, Tribulations, Pressure & Persecution

So you want to enter the kingdom of God?

You hope for THE LIFE in a risen KING- the Son of God JESUS.

AND THIS IS the GOSPEL GOOD NEWS Paul proclaims?
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thlipsis STRONGS G2347:
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properly, a pressing, pressing together, pressure (Strabo, p. 52; Galen); in Biblical and ecclesiastical writings, a Greek metaphor, oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits;

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Gospel of Matthew 24:9 KJV – a prophesy of Jesus to his disciples

Paul and Barnabas have already seen much tribulation. But now others – Jewish converts, Hellenists, even Roman believers among so many saints of these growing churches will also suffer afflictions as disciples of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Paul comes with more than a change of heart and soul – these Christians will see afflictions and tribulations — troubles never before encountered when they did not claim the risen Christ Jesus as their Lord.

The SOULS of the disciples of these NEW CHURCHES will need much STRENGTHING from leaders ENCOURAGING them to CONTINUE in THE FAITH.

Paul and Barnabas will continue that work which they begun by returning to these new disciples on their return journey to the Church at Antioch from which they were sent out by the Holy Spirit and church.

A foundational ministry in the mountains
- they had proclaimed the gospel [in Derby] and had made many disciples,
- they returned
  - to Lystra
  - and to Iconium
  - and to Antioch
And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas 14:23

And when they passed through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia. – ACTS 14:24

And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

Acts of the Apostles 14 – Paul & Barnabas’ return from first missionary journey

And from there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.

Home in Antioch (Syria)

And when they had arrived and gathered the church together,

they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

And they spent not a little time with the disciples.
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This first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas has taken about two years. The apostles (ones sent out) of the Gospel have much to share with the disciples (followers) of the risen Christ Jesus. 

NEXT: In Acts of the Apostles 15 Luke will record some differences in worship yet to be worked out between Christians in Antioch and disciples of Christ in Judea and other parts of Syria.
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To be continued…
November 29, 2022