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ELM 2003
Ecclesiology and Ecumenism,
Father Christopher Roberts, MA
What is the Church?
• The English word Church comes from the
kirche, which is in turn related to the Greek
kuriakon, which means the house of the Lord.
• By contrast, the Greek word for Church is
ekklesia, which comes from the preposition ek
(out of) and the verb kaleo (to call).
• How do we think of the Church? As a building
or as the assembly of those called out of the
world?
The New Testament on the Church
• Starting with Saint Matthew’s Gospel
• Chapter 10, verses 1-15:
• 1 So he called his twelve disciples to him, and
gave them authority to cast out unclean
spirits, and to heal every kind of disease and
infirmity.
• 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles;
Matthew 10:1-15 (cont.)
• first, Simon, also called Peter, then his brother
Andrew, 3 James the son of Zebedee and his
brother John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas
and Matthew the publican, James the son of
Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, 4 Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot, the traitor.
• 5 These twelve Jesus sent out; but first gave them
their instructions; Do not go, he said, into the
walks of the Gentiles, or enter any city of
Samaria; 6 go rather to the lost sheep that belong
to the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:1-15 (cont.)
•
•
•
And preach as you go, telling them, The kingdom (gk.
baselia) of heaven is at hand…
12 When you enter this house, you are to wish it well;
13 and so, if the house is worthy, your good wishes shall
come down upon it; if unworthy, let them come back
to you the way they went.
14 And wherever they will not receive you or listen to
your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you
leave that city or that house; 15 I promise you, it shall
go less hard with the land of Sodom and Gomorrha at
the day of judgement, than with that city.
7
Matthew 16:1-23
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came and put him
to the test, asking him to shew them a sign from
heaven.
• 2 But he answered them, When evening comes, you
say, It is fair weather, the sky is red; 3 or at sunrise,
There will be a storm to-day, the sky is red and
lowering. You know, then, how to read the face of
heaven; can you not read the signs of appointed times?
• 4 It is a wicked and unfaithful generation that asks for a
sign; the only sign that will be given to it is the sign of
the prophet Jonas. And so he went on his way and left
them.
• 1
Matthew 16: 1-23 (cont.)
• 5 And they crossed the sea, and his disciples found that
they had forgotten to take bread with them. 6 So, when
Jesus said to them, See that you have nothing to do
with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,
7 they were anxious in their minds; We have brought
no bread, they said.
• 8 Jesus knew it, and said to them, Men of little faith,
what is this anxiety in your minds, that you have
brought no bread with you? 9 Have you no wits even
now, or have you forgotten the five thousand and their
five loaves, and the number of baskets you filled? 10 Or
the four thousand and their seven loaves, and the
number of hampers you filled then?
Matthew 16:1-23 (cont.)
• 11 How could you suppose that I was thinking of bread,
when I said, Have nothing to do with the leaven of the
Pharisees and Sadducees? 12 Then they understood that his
warning was against the doctrine of the Pharisees and
Sadducees, not against leavened bread.
• 13 Then Jesus came into the neighbourhood of Caesarea
Philippi; and there he asked his disciples, What do men say
of the Son of Man? Who do they think he is?
• 14 Some say John the Baptist, they told him, others Elias,
others again, Jeremy or one of the prophets.
• 15 Jesus said to them, And what of you? Who do you say
that I am?
Matthew 16:1-23 (cont.)
Then Simon Peter answered, Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God.
• 17 And Jesus answered him, Blessed art thou, Simon son of
Jona; it is not flesh and blood, it is my Father in heaven that
has revealed this to thee.
• 18 And I tell thee this in my turn, that thou art Peter (gk.
kephos), and it is upon this rock (gk. petra) that I will build
my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it;
• 19 and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; and whatever thou shalt bind on earth shall be
bound in heaven; and whatever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.
•
16
Matthew 16:1-23 (cont.)
• 20 Then he strictly forbade them to tell any man that
he, Jesus, was the Christ.
• 21 From that time onwards Jesus began to make it
known to his disciples that he must go up to Jerusalem,
and there, with much ill usage from the chief priests
and elders and scribes, must be put to death, and rise
again on the third day. 22 Whereupon Peter, drawing
him to his side, began remonstrating with him; Never,
Lord, he said; no such thing shall befall thee.
• 23 At which he turned round and said to Peter, Back,
Satan; thou art a stone (gk. skandalon) in my path; for
these thoughts of thine are man’s, not God’s.
Matthew 18:1-6, 11-20
• 1 The disciples came to Jesus at this time and said, Tell us,
who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 Whereupon
Jesus called to his side a little child, to whom he gave a
place in the midst of them, 3 and said, Believe me, unless
you become like little children again, you shall not enter
the kingdom of heaven.
• 4 He is greatest in the kingdom of heaven who will abase
himself like this little child. 5 He who gives welcome to such
a child as this in my name, gives welcome to me.
• 6 And if anyone hurts the conscience of one of these little
ones, that believe in me, he had better have been drowned
in the depths of the sea, with a mill-stone hung about his
neck.
Matthew 18:1-6, 11-20 (cont.)
The Son of Man has come to save that which
was lost. 12 Tell me this, if a man has a hundred
sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he
not leave those ninety-nine others on the
mountain-side, and go out to look for the one
that is straying?
13 And if, by good fortune, he finds it, he rejoices
more, believe me, over that one, than over the
ninety-nine which never strayed from him. 14 So
too it is not your heavenly Father’s pleasure that
one of these little ones should be lost.
• 11
•
Matthew 18:1-6, 11-20 (cont.)
If thy brother does thee wrong, go at once and
tax him with it, as a private matter between thee
and him; and so, if he will listen to thee, thou
hast won thy brother.
• 16 If he will not listen to thee, take with thee one
or two more, that the whole matter may be
certified by the voice of two or three witnesses.
• 17 If he will not listen to them, then speak of it to
the church; and if he will not even listen to the
church, then count him all one with the heathen
and the publican.
• 15
Matthew 18:1-6, 11-20 (cont.)
• 18 I promise you, all that you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and all that you
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
• 19 And moreover I tell you, that if two of you
agree over any request that you make on
earth, it will be granted them by my Father
who is in heaven.
• 20 Where two or three are gathered together
in my name, I am there in the midst of them.
Key points in Matthew
• Jesus founds a new Israel and shares His
authority with the Apostles
• Peter has a special role in the new Israel
• Authority is at the service of the little ones
and the lost
• The authority that Peter has does not
eliminate other sources of authority in the
Church.
Luke 10:1-20
After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two
others, and sent them before him, two and two,
into all the cities and villages he himself was to
visit. 2 The harvest, he told them, is plentiful
enough, but the labourers are few; you must ask
the Lord to whom the harvest belongs to send
labourers out for the harvesting.
3 Go then, and remember, I am sending you out
to be like lambs among wolves. 4 You are not to
carry purse, or wallet, or shoes; you are to give
no one greeting on your way.
• 1
•
Luke 10:1-20 (cont.)
• 5 When you enter a house, say first of all, Peace be to
this house; 6 and if those who dwell there are men of
good will, your good wishes shall come down upon it; if
not, they will come back to you the way they went.
• 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what
they have to give you; the labourer has a right to his
maintenance; do not move from one house to another.
• 8 When you enter a city, and they make you welcome,
be content to eat the fare they offer you: 9 and heal
those who are sick there; and tell them, The kingdom
of God is close upon you.
Luke 10:1-20 (cont.)
But if you enter a city where they will not
make you welcome, go out into their streets,
and say, 11 We brush off in your faces the very
dust from your city that has clung to our feet;
and be sure of this, the kingdom of God is
close at hand.
12 I tell you, it shall go less hard with Sodom
at the day of judgement, than with that city.
• 10
•
Luke 10:1-20 (cont.)
• 13 Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida! Tyre
and Sidon would have repented long ago, humbling
themselves with sackcloth and ashes, if the miracles
done in you had been done there instead.
• 14 And indeed, it shall go less hard with Tyre and Sidon
at the judgement, than with you. 15 And thou,
Capharnaum, dost thou hope to be lifted up high as
heaven? Thou shalt be brought low as hell.
• 16 He who listens to you, listens to me; he who
despises you, despises me; and he who despises me,
despises him that sent me.
Luke 22:24-37
• 24 And there was rivalry between them over the
question, which of them was to be accounted the
greatest. 25 But he told them, The kings of the Gentiles
lord it over them, and those who bear rule over them
win the name of benefactors.
• 26 With you it is not to be so; no difference is to be
made, among you, between the greatest and the
youngest of all, between him who commands and him
who serves. 27 Tell me, which is greater, the man who
sits at table, or the man who serves him? Surely the
man who sits at table; yet I am here among you as
your servant.
Luke 22:24-37 (cont.)
• 28 You are the men who have kept to my side in my
hours of trial: 29 and, as my Father has allotted a
kingdom to me, so I allot to you 30 a place to eat and
drink at my table in my kingdom; you shall sit on
twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has
claimed power over you all, so that he can sift you like
wheat: 32 but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith may
not fail; when, after a while, thou hast come back to
me, it is for thee to be the support of thy brethren.
Luke 22:24-37 (cont.)
• 33 Lord, said he, I am ready to bear thee company, though
it were to prison or to death. 34 But he answered, I tell
thee, Peter, by cock-crow this morning thou wilt thrice have
denied knowledge of me.
• Then he said to them, 35 Did you go in want of anything,
when I sent you out without purse, or wallet, or shoes?
36 They told him, Nothing; and he said,
• But now it is time for a man to take his purse with him, if
he has one, and his wallet too; and to sell his cloak and
buy a sword, if he has none. 37 Believe me, one word has
been written that has yet to find its fullfilment in me, And
he was counted among the malefactors. Sure enough, all
that has been written of me must be fulfilled.
Key points in Luke
• Communication of authority from Jesus to his
representatives (more than just the twelve)
• Consequences for rejecting those sent by
Christ
• Authority is service
• Peter’s role in strengthening the brothers
• The Church and the world in conflict
John 6:1-21
• 1 After this, Jesus retired across the sea of Galilee, or
Tiberias, 2 and there was a great multitude following
him; they had seen the miracles [lit. signs] he
performed over the sick. 3 So Jesus went up on to the
hill-side, and there sat down with his disciples.
• 4 It was nearly the time of the Jews’ great feast, the
paschal feast. 5 And now, lifting up his eyes and seeing
that a great multitude had gathered round him, Jesus
said to Philip, Whence are we to buy bread for these
folk to eat? 6 In saying this, he was putting him to the
test; he himself knew well enough what he meant to
do.
John 6:1-21 (cont.)
• 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred silver pieces
would not buy enough bread for them, even to give
each a little. 8 One of his disciples (it was Andrew,
Simon Peter’s brother) said to him, 9 There is a boy
here, who has five barley loaves and two fishes; but
what is that among so many?
• 10 Then Jesus said, Make the men sit down. There was
no lack of grass where they were; so the men sat
down, about five thousand in number. 11 And Jesus
took the loaves, and gave thanks, and distributed
them to the company, and a share of the fishes too, as
much as they had a mind for.
John 6:1-21 (cont.)
Then, when they had all had enough, he told his
disciples, Gather up the broken pieces that are left
over, so that nothing may be wasted. 13 And when they
gathered them up, they filled twelve baskets with the
broken pieces left over by those who had eaten.
14 When they saw the miracle [lit. sign] Jesus had
done, these men began to say, Beyond doubt, this is
the prophet who is to come into the world.
15 Knowing, then, that they meant to come and carry
him off, so as to make a king of him, Jesus once again
withdrew on to the hill-side all alone.
• 12
•
John 6:1-21 (cont.)
• 16 His disciples, when evening came on, went down to the
lake, 17 and there, embarking on the boat, they began to
cross the water to Capharnaum. Darkness had fallen, and
Jesus had not yet come back to them.
• 18 Meanwhile there was a strong wind blowing, and the sea
was beginning to grow rough. 19 And now they had rowed
some twenty-five or thirty furlongs, when they saw Jesus
walking on the sea, and already drawing near to the boat
[whose boat?]. They were terrified:
• 20 but he said to them, It is myself; [lit. I am] do not be
afraid. 21 Then they took him on board willingly enough;
and all at once their boat reached the land they were
making for.
John 6:30-35
• 30 So they said to him, Why then, what miracle [lit. sign]
canst thou do? We must see it before we trust thee; what
canst thou effect? 31 Our fathers had manna to eat in the
desert; as the scripture says, He gave them bread out of
heaven to eat.
• 32 Jesus said to them, Believe me when I tell you this; the
bread that comes from heaven is not what Moses gave you.
The real bread from heaven is given only by my Father.
33 God’s gift of bread comes down from heaven and gives
life to the whole world.
• 34 Then, Lord, they said, give us this bread all the while.
35 But Jesus told them, It is I who am the bread of life; he
who comes to me will never be hungry, he who has faith in
me will never know thirst.
John 6:41,48-56
The Jews were by now complaining of his saying, I
am myself the bread which has come down from
heaven…
• 48 It is I who am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers, who
ate manna in the desert, died none the less; 50 the
bread which comes down from heaven is such that he
who eats of it never dies.
• 51 I myself am the living bread that has come down
from heaven. 52 If anyone eats of this bread, he shall
live for ever. And now, what is this bread which I am to
give? It is my flesh, given for the life of the world.
•
41
John 6:41, 48-56 (cont.)
Then the Jews fell to disputing with one another,
How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
54 Whereupon Jesus said to them, Believe me when I
tell you this; you can have no life in yourselves, unless
you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his
blood. 55 The man who eats my flesh and drinks my
blood enjoys eternal life, and I will raise him up at the
last day.
56 My flesh is real food, my blood is real drink. 57 He
who eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, lives
continually in me, and I in him.
• 53
•
•
John 6:61-69
• 61 And there were many of his disciples who said, when
they heard it, This is strange talk, who can be expected to
listen to it?
• 62 But Jesus, inwardly aware that his disciples were
complaining over it, said to them, Does this try your faith?
63 What will you make of it, if you see the Son of Man
ascending to the place where he was before?
• 64 Only the spirit gives life; the flesh is of no avail; and the
words I have been speaking to you are spirit, and life.
• 65 But there are some, even among you, who do not
believe. Jesus knew from the first which were those who
did not believe, and which of them was to betray him.
John 6:61-69 (cont.)
• 66 And he went on to say, That is what I meant when I
told you that nobody can come to me unless he has
received the gift from my Father. 67 After this, many of
his disciples went back to their old ways, and walked
no more in his company.
• 68 Whereupon Jesus said to the twelve, Would you,
too, go away?
• 69 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom should
we go? Thy words are the words of eternal life; 70 we
have learned to believe, and are assured that thou art
the Christ, the Son of God.
John 21:1-7, 10-11, 15-19
• 1 Jesus appeared to his disciples again afterwards, at the
sea of Tiberias, and this is how he appeared to them.
• 2 Simon Peter was there, and with him were Thomas, who
is also called Didymus, and Nathanael, from Cana of
Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two more of his
disciples. 3 Simon Peter told them, I am going out fishing;
and they said, We, too, will go with thee. So they went out
and embarked on the boat, and all that night they caught
nothing.
• 4 But when morning came, there was Jesus standing on the
shore; only the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
John 21:1-7, 10-11, 15-19 (cont.)
• 5 Have you caught anything, friends, Jesus asked them,
to season your bread with? And when they answered
No, 6 he said to them, Cast to the right of the boat, and
you will have a catch. So they cast the net, and found
before long they had no strength to haul it in, such a
shoal of fish was in it.
• 7 Whereupon the disciple whom Jesus loved said to
Peter, It is the Lord. And Simon Peter, hearing him say
that it was the Lord, girded up the fisherman’s coat,
which was all he wore, and sprang into the sea.
John 21:1-7, 10-11, 15-19 (cont.)
• 10 Bring some of the fish you have just caught,
Jesus said to them: 11 and Simon Peter, going on
board, hauled in the net to land. It was loaded
with great fish, a hundred and fifty-three of
them; and with all that number the net had not
broken…
• 15 And when they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon
Peter, Simon, son of John, dost thou care for me
[agape]more than these others? Yes, Lord, he told
him, thou knowest well that I love [philia] thee.
And he said to him, Feed my lambs.
John 21:1-7, 10-11, 15-19
• 16 And again, a second time, he asked him, Simon, son of John,
dost thou care [agape] for me? Yes, Lord, he told him, thou knowest
well that I love [philia] thee. He said to him, Tend my shearlings.
• 17 Then he asked him a third question, Simon, son of John, dost
thou love [philia] me? Peter was deeply moved when he was asked
a third time, Dost thou love me? and said to him, Lord, thou
knowest all things; thou canst tell that I love [philia] thee. Jesus
said to him, Feed my sheep.
• 18 Believe me when I tell thee this; as a young man, thou wouldst
gird thyself and walk where thou hadst the will to go, but when
thou hast grown old, thou wilt stretch out thy hands, and another
shall gird thee, and carry thee where thou goest, not of thy own
will. 19 So much he told him, prophesying the death by which he
was to glorify God; and with that he said to him, Follow me.
Key Points in John
• The centrality of the Incarnation and the
Eucharist
• Peter’s pastoral role of confirming the faith
• The Church is One and Universal
• The beloved disciples witness to the
resurrection
• The link between love and leadership in the
Church
Acts 1:15-16, 20-26
• 15 At this time, Peter stood up and spoke before all the
brethren; a company of about a hundred and twenty were
gathered there.
• 16 Brethren, he said, there is a prophecy in scripture that
must needs be fulfilled; that which the Holy Spirit made, by
the lips of David, about Judas, who shewed the way to the
men that arrested Jesus. 17 Judas was counted among our
number, and had been given a share in this ministry of
ours…
• 20 Well, in the book of Psalms the words are written, Let
their camping-place be deserted, and let no man be found
to dwell in it. And again, Let another take over his office
[gk. episkopen].
Acts 1:15-16, 20-26 (cont.)
There are men who have walked in our
company all through the time when the Lord
Jesus came and went among us, 22 from the time
when John used to baptize to the day when he,
Jesus, was taken from us.
• One of these ought to be added to our number as
a witness of his resurrection. 23 So they named
two of them, Joseph called Barsabas, who had
been given the fresh name of Justus, and
Matthias.
• 21
Acts 1:15-16, 20-26 (cont.)
And they offered this prayer, Lord, who
knowest the hearts of all men, shew us which
of these two thou hast chosen 25 to take his
place in this work of apostleship, from which
Judas has fallen away, and gone to the place
which belonged to him.
26 They gave them lots; and the lot fell upon
Matthias, and he took rank with the eleven
apostles.
• 24
•
Acts 2:1-8, 12-14, 22-24, 32-33, 36
• 1 When the day of Pentecost came round, while they were all
gathered together in unity of purpose, 2 all at once a sound
came from heaven like that of a strong wind blowing, and
filled the whole house where they were sitting.
• 3 Then appeared to them what seemed to be tongues of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each of them; 4 and they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in
strange languages, as the Spirit gave utterance to each.
• 5 Among those who were dwelling in Jerusalem at this time
were devout Jews from every country under heaven; 6 so,
when the noise of this went abroad, the crowd which
gathered was in bewilderment; each man severally heard
them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:1-8, 12-14, 22-24, 32-33, 36
(cont.)
And they were all beside themselves with
astonishment; Are they not all Galileans
speaking? they asked. 8 How is it that each of us
hears them talking his own native tongue?...
12 So they were all beside themselves with
perplexity, and asked one another, What can this
mean? 13 There were others who said, mockingly,
They have had their fill of new wine.
• 7
•
Acts 2:1-8, 12-14, 22-24, 32-33, 36
(cont.)
• 14 But Peter, with the eleven apostles at his side, stood
there and raised his voice to speak to them; Men of Judaea,
he said, and all you who are dwelling in Jerusalem, I must
tell you this; listen to what I have to say…
• 22 Men of Israel, listen to this. Jesus of Nazareth was a man
duly accredited to you from God; such were the miracles
and wonders and signs which God did through him in your
midst, as you yourselves well know. 23 This man you have
put to death; by God’s fixed design and foreknowledge, he
was betrayed to you, and you, through the hands of sinful
men, have cruelly murdered him.
• 24 But God raised him up again, releasing him from the
pangs of death; it was impossible that death should have
the mastery over him.
Acts 2:1-8, 12-14, 22-24, 32-33, 36
(cont.)
God, then, has raised up this man, Jesus, from
the dead; we are all witnesses of it. 33 And now,
exalted at God’s right hand, he has claimed from
his Father his promise to bestow the Holy Spirit;
and he has poured out that Spirit, as you can see
and hear for yourselves…
36 Let it be known, then, beyond doubt, to all the
house of Israel, that God has made him Master
and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.
• 32
•
Acts 2:42-45
These occupied themselves continually with
the apostles’ teaching, their fellowship in the
breaking of bread, and the fixed times of prayer,
43 and every soul was struck with awe, so many
were the wonders and signs performed by the
apostles in Jerusalem.
• 44 All the faithful held together, and shared all
they had, 45 selling their possessions and their
means of livelihood, so as to distribute to all, as
each had need.
• 42
Acts 6:1-6
• 1 At this time, as the number of the disciples increased,
complaints were brought against those who spoke Hebrew
by those who spoke Greek; their widows, they said, were
neglected in the daily administration of relief.
• 2 So the twelve called together the general body of the
disciples, and said, It is too much that we should have to
forgo preaching God’s word, and bestow our care upon
tables.
• 3 Come then, brethren, you must find among you seven
men who are well spoken of, full of the Holy Spirit and of
wisdom, for us to put in charge of this business, 4 while we
devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of
preaching.
Acts 6:1-6 (cont.)
This advice found favour with all the
assembly; and they chose Stephen, a man
who was full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,
Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas,
and Nicolas, who was a proselyte from
Antioch.
• 6 These they presented to the apostles, who
laid their hands on them with prayer.
• 5
Acts 8:26-39
Meanwhile, Philip was commanded by an angel of
the Lord, Rise up, and go south to meet the road which
leads from Jerusalem to Gaza, out in the desert. 27 So
he rose up and went; and found there an Ethiopian.
• This man was a eunuch, a courtier of Candace, queen
of Ethiopia, and had charge of all her wealth; he had
been up to worship at Jerusalem, 28 and was now on
his way home, driving along in his chariot and reading
the prophet Isaias.
• 29 The Spirit said to Philip, Go up to that chariot and
keep close by it.
• 26
Acts 8:26-39 (cont.)
• 30 And Philip, as he ran up, heard him reading the prophet
Isaias, and asked, Canst thou understand what thou art
reading? 31 How could I, said he, without someone to
guide me? And he entreated Philip to come up and sit
beside him.
• 32 The passage of scripture which he was reading was this;
‘He was led away like a sheep to be slaughtered; like a lamb
that is dumb before its shearer, he would not open his
mouth. 33 He was brought low, and all his rights taken
away; who shall tell the story of his age? His life is being cut
off from the earth. ‘
• 34 And the eunuch turned to Philip, and said, Tell me, about
whom does the prophet say this? Himself, or some other
man?
Acts 8:26-39 (cont.)
• 35 Then Philip began speaking, and preached to him about
Jesus, taking this passage as his theme. 36 As they went on
their way, they came to a piece of water, and the eunuch
said, See, there is water here; why may I not be baptized?
• 37 Philip said, If thou dost believe with all thy heart, thou
mayest. And he answered, I believe that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God. 38 So he had the chariot stopped, and both of
them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water,
and Philip baptized him there.
• 39 But when they came up from the water, Philip was
carried off by the spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch did not
see him any longer; he went on his way rejoicing.
Acts 15: 1-14, 19-29
• 1 But now some visitors came down from Judaea, who
began to tell the brethren, You cannot be saved without
being circumcised according to the tradition of Moses.
• 2 Paul and Barnabas were drawn into a great controversy
with them; and it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and
certain of the rest should go up to see the apostles and
presbyters in Jerusalem about this question. 3 So the
church saw them on their way, and they passed through
Phoenice and Samaria, relating how the Gentiles were
turning to God, and so brought great rejoicing to all the
brethren.
• 4 When they reached Jerusalem, they were welcomed by
the church, and by the apostles and presbyters; and they
told them of all that God had done to aid them.
Acts 15: 1-14, 19-29 (cont.)
• 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the
Pharisees came forward and declared, They must be
circumcised; we must call upon them to keep the law
of Moses.
• 6 When the apostles and presbyters assembled to
decide about this matter 7 there was much disputing
over it, until Peter rose and said to them, Brethren, you
know well enough how from early days it has been
God’s choice that the Gentiles should hear the message
of the gospel from my lips, and so learn to believe.
• 8 God, who can read men’s hearts, has assured them of
his favour by giving the Holy Spirit to them as to us.
Acts 15: 1-14, 19-29 (cont.)
He would not make any difference between us and
them; he had removed all the uncleanness from their
hearts when he gave them faith. 10 How is it, then, that
you would now call God in question, by putting a yoke
on the necks of the disciples, such as we and our
fathers have been too weak to bear?
11 It is by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we
hope to be saved, and they no less. 12 Then the whole
company kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and
Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had
performed among the Gentiles by their means.
• 9
•
Acts 15: 1-14, 19-29 (cont.)
• 13 And when they had finished speaking, James answered
thus, Listen, brethren, to what I have to say. 14 Simon has
told us, how for the first time God has looked with favour
on the Gentiles, and chosen from among them a people
dedicated to his name…
• 19 And so I give my voice for sparing the consciences of
those Gentiles who have found their way to God; 20 only
writing to bid them abstain from what is contaminated by
idolatry, from fornication, and from meat which has been
strangled or has the blood in it.
• 21 As for Moses, ever since the earliest times he has been
read, sabbath after sabbath, in the synagogues, and has
preachers in every city to expound him.
Acts 15: 1-14, 19-29 (cont.)
• 22 Thereupon it was resolved by the apostles and
presbyters, with the agreement of the whole church, to
choose out some of their own number and despatch them
to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas who was
called Barsabas, and Silas, who were leading men among
the brethren.
• 23 And they sent, by their hands, this message in writing; To
the Gentile brethren in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, their
brethren the apostles and presbyters send greeting.
• 24 We hear that some of our number who visited you have
disquieted you by what they said, unsettling your
consciences, although we had given them no such
commission;
Acts 15: 1-14, 19-29 (cont.)
and therefore, meeting together with
common purpose of heart, we have resolved
to send you chosen messengers, in company
with our well-beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have staked their lives for the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have given this commission to Judas and
Silas, who will confirm the message by word
of mouth.
• 25
•
Acts 15: 1-14, 19-29 (cont.)
It is the Holy Spirit’s pleasure and ours that
no burden should be laid upon you beyond
these, which cannot be avoided;
29 you are to abstain from what is sacrificed to
idols, from blood-meat and meat which has
been strangled, and from fornication. If you
keep away from such things, you will have
done your part. Farewell.
• 28
•
Key points in Acts
•
•
•
•
•
Apostolic sucession
Proclamation of the Resurrection
The action of the Holy Spirit
Formation of community
Exercise of authority: give and take between
vertical and horizontal