Lesson 8

Question 1

Explain how the relationship of Acts 15 to Gal 2:1-10 affects the critics’ negative historical view of Luke’s account.

Answer 1

1. Virtually all critics believe that Acts 15 is Luke’s version of what happened in Gal 2:1-10. They also believe that Acts 15 has major historical errors
2. Most historical problems raised by critics are solved by equating Gal 2:1-10 with Acts 11
   A. Hence, Galatians is written (by Paul) before the Jerusalem Council
   B. Most critics will not assume that two similar incidents occurred

Question 2

What are the three arguments at the Jerusalem Council which favor Gentiles? Speculate on why this was convincing?

Answer 2

1. Peter recalls the events of Acts 10
   A. God accepted Gentiles without requiring them to obey the law
   B. Jews and Gentiles are saved through grace (believe) which is opposite of law (Acts 15:11; cf. Acts 13:38-39)
2. Paul and Barnabas recall Acts 13-14
3. James, the brother of Jesus, quotes Amos 9:11-12
   A. The quote is used to show that Christ (or, Christ’s Church) will include Gentiles; hence, Peter, Paul, and Barnabas’ interpretation of events are accurate
   B. Acts 15:16-17 generally follows the LXX. The exception is that it reads “in that day” (LXX) rather than “after this I will return” (Acts)
   C. In Amos 9:12, the MT and LXX do not match well. Acts follows the LXX rather than the MT

Why was it convincing?
1. comes from Peter an Apostle
2. Paul’s authority from radical conversion and call to the gentiles
3. Supported by Barnabas
4. Thus, Paul and Peter are correctly interpreting the signs.

Question 3

Was Paul consistent in not circumcising Titus and circumcising Timothy? Give a rationale for your answer.

Answer 3

Yes, Paul was being consistent
1. When they Judaizers were “requiring” circumcision for salvation, it was wrong, b/c they were adding to faith.

2. But once it was no longer a requirement for salvation but became an issue of stumbling block, it freed him to go either way.

Question 4

Reading Question – Ladd, A Theology of the NT, chapter 24
If Luke was with Paul at his Caesarean imprisonment as Acts 21:18 claims, how does this solve many of the supposed problems concerning historical sources?

Answer 4

1. If Luke was with Paul during his Caesarean imprisonment
   (Acts 21:18; 24:27; 27:1), he had ample opportunity to meet and talk with people who had both known Jesus and been participants in the life ofthe earliest church
2. it is altogether probable that the early church was interested not only in the tradition about Jesus but also in the tradition about the apostles and its own early leaders.
3. Thucydides expressly says he was present on some occasions and used the reports of others who were present
4. There is a presence of Semitisms in the
5. Luke seems to have been able to give us an extraordinarily accurate picture of the undeveloped theology of the earliest Christians.”
6. in those areas where Luke’s writing can be checked
   against knowledge drawn from secularsources, he is amazingly accurate

We conclude, then, that we may use the early chapters of Acts as a reliable source for the theology ofthe Jerusalem church