In this section of Acts Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem reaches its goal and the predicted conflict comes to pass. Luke is with Paul as he reports the mighty deeds of God among the Gentiles. James reports that many thousands among the Jews were believers but had heard that Paul was teaching Jewish believers not to circumcise their children and was encouraging them to “forsake Moses.”

We discuss how Luke portrays the spiritual condition of Jerusalem in Luke/Acts. She had abusive and hypocritical leadership and Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem. Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem for the last time happened about 57 AD. The disturbance there was so great, that the often discussed collection for the saints is not even mentioned.

Luke never mentions the destruction of the temple in 70 AD which shows that it happened after Luke wrote Luke/Acts which ends with Paul in Rome awaiting trial. James reports that those zealous for the Law among the believers were very disturbed by the reports about Paul’s teachings.

In this class we spend some time explaining what Paul did teach and how God had worked through Paul in his Gentile mission. Paul did not speak against Moses but that Moses had spoken of one greater who God would raise up, which is Messiah (Deut. 18:15).

I point out that Paul’s writings show that he did not want there to be two versions of Christianity, one for Jews and headquartered in Jerusalem and another for Gentiles. Paul spoke of the church as one new man and that the teachings of Christ and His apostles are binding on the church. In that regard we talk about binding and loosing and Christian liberty. This discussion will be picked up next week.