Peter and Paul
These next couple of sermons we'll learn of a significant controversy
that occurred in the early church that led the apostle Paul to clarify
a very
important aspect of the gospel, namely
that
salvation
is
free
gift given by grace through faith and its not
something earned.
This week we'll look at the historical background that led up to the
controversy. Continuing in the book of Acts, which is Luke's
compilation of the history of the early church, last week we learned
that even if a person is good by human standards, they still have to
be saved. Though he was hesitant to do so initially, the apostle Peter
obeyed the Lord's instruction to talk to Cornelius in
order that he may be saved. At his conversion Peter concluded saying,
"I now realize how true it is that
God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear
him and do what is right." Acts
10:34,45 But in fact he had more to realize.
The story starts off in Acts chapter 8 which introduces us to prehaps
the most zealous Jew of his day, a man named Saul. In Acts chapter 7
Saul had been involved in the murder of the first Christian matyr,
Stephen a matyr. Then in Acts 8 it begins,
"On
that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem,
and all except the apostles
were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." Acts 8:1 and goes on to say,
"Saul began to destroy the church.
Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in
prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they
went." Acts 8:3,4
So this man Saul leads a persecution against the church, which turns
out to be a
good thing, because, despite the reluctance to leave Jerusalem, it
causes the gospel to be spread elsewhere. Sometimes bad things happen
for the greater good. Just as it is written in
Romans 8:28 "we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose."
It was Jesus who commanded the
apostles,
"Go into all the world
and preach the good news to all creation." Mk 16:15 But the apostles and the
Jewish Christians were largely reluctant to do so, just as Peter was
reluctant, discriminating against Gentiles. So perhaps God allow this
persecution
so to scatter the Christians and with them spread the gospel. But even
so we read in
Acts 11:9 that
those
scattered by this persecution ended up speaking the word to no one
except Jews only. And notice the apostles still hadn't left
Jerusalem. For in Acts chapter 5 the Jewish ruling council had decreed
the apostles not be subject to persecution lest get they too much
attention provoking others to take up their cause. So they weren't
subject to persecution until Acts chapter 12 when King Herod kills the
apostle James.