Sunday’s first reading recounts how the Church handled its first major problem — whether Gentiles should keep the law of Moses and all the men be circumcised. The people of the ancient world respected Jews for their worship of one God and high moral standards.
The law of Moses gave Jews identity as a community and respect among Gentiles. Christian Jews continued to keep the law and many wanted Gentiles to keep the law in order to become Christians.
Acts reports the results of the first Church council, which took place in Jerusalem. Christians on both sides of the question met face to face. The group came to a unanimous decision and testified the Spirit worked in them. They elected representatives to deliver their decision to those affected.
The Jerusalem Council
Some men came down to Antioch from Judea and began to teach the community: “Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” After much discord and controversy between them and Paul and Barnabas, Paul, Barnabas, and some others decided to go see the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question.
The apostles and elders resolved in agreement with the whole Jerusalem church to send representatives to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were leading men of the community, Judas, known as Barnabas, and Silas. They were to deliver this letter:
“The apostles, the elders, and the community send greetings to the brothers and sisters of Gentile origin in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Since we have heard that some of our number whom we did not send have upset you with their discussions and disturbed your peace of mind, we resolved unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated themselves to our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Those whom we are sending you are Judas and Silas, who will convey this message by word of mouth: ‘It seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay on you any burden beyond that which is strictly necessary, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from illicit sexual union. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.’”
Acts 15.1-2,22-29
- How do the proceedings of the first Church council compare and contrast with the way your parish council makes decisions?
- How are the struggles of the earliest Christians like those going on in the Church today between Catholics who embrace the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and those who are restoring the pre-Vatican II Church?