Acts 15 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
1. Why is it significant that the text mentions “Judea” as the place where these men were from and what does that have to do with their teaching about Gentile adherence to the Torah?
2. Was Shaliach Yakov (James) responsible for sending these “men” who taught that Gentiles must be circumcised in order to be saved; and did he lean towards this legalistic view? Give Scriptural evidence for your answer…
3. What was the distance between Antioch (Syria) and Jerusalem, how did Shaul & Barnaba travel, and how was this advantageous for them to spread the news of their evangelistic accomplishments?
4. What is the meaning of “party of the Pharisees” or “sect of the Pharisees”; and how does this relate to their position that all Gentiles must be circumcised in order to obtain salvation?
5. How is the Apostolic analysis of the issue at hand described similar to how the “Essenes” (Qumran Community who is responsible for the Dead-Sea Scrolls) operated and functioned in regards to developing Halacha? (Jewish Law)
6. What מעשי or “precedents” did Shaliach Shimon offer in his argument against circumcision of Gentiles, and how is this significant to the decision of the Elders?
7. How does Shaliach Yakov’s speech function as “legal inference” establishing precedent?
8. Where did Shaliach Yakov derive the restrictions he placed upon the Gentiles, what is the source of these rules? Give Biblical examples…
9. Who actually sent this letter, and what is significant about the language used to describe who authored it?
10. What did the letter fully accomplish and what matters did it settle between relations between Jews and non-Jews in the New Covenant?
11. No sooner is one disagreement resolved when another comes up in Ch. 15, now between Shaliach Shaul and Shaliach Bar-Nabba, over John Mark. Why was this disagreement so serious and is there any Biblical evidence that this was ever reconciled between the two, or three including John Mark? Give citations to support your answer….
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