The probative force of Peter's speech : acts 15, 7b-11

Abstract

Acts 15, 1-35 is a story of the resolution of a difficulty.] The basis of the difficulty, a teaching, Luke puts forward immediately (15,1): without circumcision according to the Law of Moses "you cannot be saved"; in a second formula (15,5), it is said that "it is necessary" to circumcise them (Gentiles converted to Christianity) and to insist they keep the [entire] Law of Moses. That many Gentile Christians were not instructed to acceptS this teaching created 'a difficulty' . The resolution of the difficulty is not formally stated, not in so many words; nowhere does it say, in a defined manner, both that the only thing necessary for salvation is faith in Jesus and that circumcision and obedience to the entire Mosaic Law are not required for salvation. Yet, that affIrmation is correctly agreed by all interpreters as the Chapter's resolution of the difficulty mentioned. Added to this important teaching in this Chapter 15 is a further decision, that the Gentile Christians of Antioch should abstain from four practices which are abhorrent to Jewish Christians, practices which the Mosaic Law had long ago agreed that Gentiles should forego when living with Jews. As noted, there is no formally crafted church decision directed to the teaching that circumcision and obedience to the entire Jewish Law are not necessary for salvation, no formal statement that "without them you can be saved." Yet, if there is no doubt about the mind of the church in this regard, there must be some place in Acts 15 where the church's eventual teaching on this matter can be most clearly identifIed. This is to be found in the speech of Peter, and it is this speech which we wish to analyze now for its singular expression of what will be the definitive mind of the church of Jerusalem.