Council of Jerusalem
The mission to the Gentiles enkindles controversy from the start. As already noted,
when Peter returned to Jerusalem after baptizing Cornelius, many
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criticized Peter
for eating with uncircumcised men. Paul and Barnabas’ first mission journey also stirred
up the hot embers of this controversy when many Gentiles in the
area of Galatia
converted. Jewish Christians from Judea came up to Antioch and had “no small
dissension and debate” (Acts 15:2) over the question of whether Gentile converts needed
to be circumcised. Paul details, in his letter to the Galatians, that
Peter himself came up
to Antioch and, under pressure from those of the circumcision party from Jerusalem,
refrained from eating with Gentile converts. With that the controversy burst into flame,
threatening the unity and very identity of the new Christian movement.
Although he was the first to teach that the clean/unclean distinction of foods was
abolished, according to
his vision at Joppa, Peter refrains from eating with Gentiles in
Antioch. Paul rebukes Peter for his insincerity. This famous confrontation, related in
Galatians 2, is often misused by some to indicate a break in the fraternal relationship
between these two apostles. But Paul’s reproof of Peter’s actions is in accord with Sirach’s
counsel that one should question a friend so that if he has done anything wrong, he may
do it no more (Sir 19:13) and with Proverbs’ words that
if one reproves a wise man, he
will love you (Prv 9:8). Far from indicating a break in their fraternal relationship, Paul’s
honest reproof of Peter and Peter’s words at the Jerusalem Council reflect a fraternal
relationship that should exist among brothers and sisters in Christ, who, in charity, call
one another on to holiness in imitation of their Lord.
Peter and Paul soon gather with the other apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the
first Church council to decide the now thorny issue of circumcision of Gentile converts
(Acts 15:6). The most prominent speech Luke records is that of Peter, who teaches that
Gentiles do not need to be circumcised. Here, in the midst of the Church’s gathering,
Peter takes the
lead and teaches correctly, overcoming his failure to practice in Antioch
what he had taught to be true. Next, Paul and Barnabas recount the signs and wonders
God worked during their mission journey, after which James concurs with Peter and
Paul, and the council comes to its decision: Gentiles are not required to be circumcised.
Unity prevails, and Peter and Paul are clearly on the same side in the debate, their
friendship preserved.
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The Second Missionary Journey
Because of the council in Jerusalem, which delays his return trip to Galatia and the
area of his first mission journey, Paul writes to the Galatians to guide the community
there through the controversy stirred up by the circumcision party. Now with the
council’s resolution in hand, Paul sets off on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–
18:22). Paul returns to
the area of Galatia, informing them of the Jerusalem Council’s
decision and strengthening the young churches he planted in cities like Lystra, Derbe,
and Pisidian Antioch (Acts 16:1–6). After touring the region, Paul comes to the ancient
port city of Troas on the western coast of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). Prevented
from traveling east, Paul ponders in Troas where to go next. At
night he has a vision in
which a man from Macedonia begs Paul to head west to present-day Greece. Luke, a well-
educated Hellenist, joins Paul in Troas (thus, beginning in Acts 16:10, Luke uses “we” in
his description of Paul’s journeys).
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