This week:Jews and ChristiansRoad to Separation

Next class (after Easter):

Jews and Christians

Separation to Hope

The Jewishness of Early Christians

•  2:47 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

• Acts 3:1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon.

• Acts 5:12 And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.

• Circumcision still practiced, no as a prerequisite of salvation. Act 16:1f – [Paul] wanted to take him [Timothy] along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek”

• Romans viewed Christians as party of Judaism, initially.

Early Roman View of Christianity• Religio licita –legal religion, including religions of vassaql states.

Judiasm was a religion licita

• Superstitio – a private religion- Romans were tolerant of such, if public order not threatened (e.g. mystery religions not outlawed)

• Acts 16:20 They brought them [Paul and Silas] before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice

• Acts 18: 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio [proconsulship began AD 51] said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.”

Road to Separation

• Birkath Haminim - 12th Synagogue Benediction:

“For persecutors let there be no hope, and the dominion of arrogance do Thou speedily rooted out in our days; and let Christian [Nazareans] and minim [heretics] perish in a moment, let them be blotted out of the book of the living and let them not be written with the righteous. “

Next class: Separation to Hope

Didache “Teachings of the Twelve Apostles”

early 2nd century

Chapter 8 - Your fasts must not be identical with those of the hypocrites. They fast on Mondays and Thursdays; but you should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Constantine and Judaism

• He stated in his letter after the First Council of Nicaea (which had already decided the matter):

• "... it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul ... Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd; for we have received from our Saviour a different way.”

• So the Christian Easter was divorced from the Jewish Passover, calendrically speaking.

• Use the Bible

Early Christianity and JudaismMajor Milestones

• AD 33 Martyrdom of Stephen

• AD 33 Conversion of Paul

• AD 49 Gentiles admitted into the Church without going though Judaism. – Ethiopian Eunuch (?). Cornelius. Jerusalem Council.

• AD 70 Destruction of Jerusalem (General Titus)– Jewish Council at Jamnia. Normative Judaism. – Sadduccees disappeared.– Zealots retreated to Masada and were wiped out .– Qumran destroyed

• Christianity became predominantly Gentile though the church in Jerusalem existed to the second Jewish revolt of Bat Cochbar

Masada

Qumran

Pella

• "The people belonging to the church at Jerusalem had been ordered by an oracle revealed to approved men on the spot before the war broke out, to leave the city and dwell in a town of Peraea called Pella" (Eusebius, Ecclesiatical History III:5).

• Some Jewish Christian returned to Jerusalem. Eusebius reported a line of 30 bishops in Jerusalem, starting with James the Just, to the Bar Cochbar Revolt. Romans completedly destroyed Jerusalem and turned it into a idolatrous temple.

A Chronological NoteActs 11:27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine [dated AD 46] would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Galatians 2:1  Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Thus Paul’s conversion took place AD 32-33.

Jewish Christians, a Sect (aireseis)

• Acts 24:5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect …

• Acts 24:14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets

• Acts 28:22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."

• Acts 5:17, 26:5 Sadducees and Pharisees called sects

• Jewish historian Josephus (1st century) mentions there were three sects (haireseis) : Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes in second century before Christ.

Sadducees

• Confined to a few wealthy family. Aristocratic.

• Allies of the temple authorities. From this party came the High Priest, the captains of the temple guard, the temple treasurers.

• The High Priest is the spokesman and representative of the nation to the Roman provincial governor. The Romans left internal affairs to the High Priest and the Sanhedrin.

• The High Priest was appointed by the Roman governor.

• Pro-Rome. Conservatives . Dislike messianic movements.

• Rejects Pharisaic oral traditions.

• Do not believe in the resurrection, nor angels.

Pharisees- One who is separated, presumably from the unclean people of the

land, the am-ha’aretz. Josephus mentioned 6000 Pharisees

• “The fundamental issue in their controversy with the Sadducees was the interpretation of traditional rules and observance for which there was no direct biblical authority “ Sadducees do not belief in the authority of “tradition of the Elders”.

• Sadducees – Sola Scripture. Scripture is the only final authority. – Sadducees – Scripture + Interpretation– Pharisees - Scripture + Oral Torah + Interpretations of both

• A second major issue – Pharisees beliefs in Resurrection, Judgment, and angels and demons.

Hillel and Shammai

• Pre-70, the school of Shammai dominated Pharisaism. Shammai has zealot leanings.

• Hillel was adaptive, Shammai was conservative

• There was a saying, “one Law has become two.”

• Anecdote of a Gentile who came to Shammai: “ Make me a proselyte, on condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on on foot.”

– Shammai’s sent him away.– Hillel’s answer – “What is hateful to you, do not do it to

your neighbor. That is the whole Torah while the rest is commentary thereof.”

Hillel

Acts 22:3  “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.

Paul

GamalielJohanan ben Zakkai

• Escaped out of Jerusalem • Went to general Vespasian

and predicted he would be emperor

• Vespasian allowed him to establish a school at Jamnia

• Jamnia became successor to the Sanhedrin

The Seven

• In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

• 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

The Seven• Hellenistic Jews – “Hellenistic” derives from a verb meaning

“to speak Greek” – Thus “Greek-speaking”, or “Hellenized” Jews, with significant Greek culture.

• All seven bears Greek names.

• In Palestine, 10-20% of Jews bore Greek names. 2 out 12 of Jesus’ apostles had Greek names (Philip and Andrew).

• Stephen used the Septuagint, Greek translation of the Hebrew OT.Acts 7:14 Stephen: “Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all.”

We know that the Hebrew Bible has 70, including Joeseph, Jacb, and Joseph’s 2 sons. (Gen 46:27)

The Septuagint has 75, reporting 9 sons of Joseph. If Joseph and Jacob exluded, we have 75.

Luke accurately reported what Stephen said.

StephenNow Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

The Trials of Jesus and of Stephen• Both brought before Sanhedrin, facing false witnesses

• Similar charges:

• For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us (Acts 6:14; cf. Mt 26:61)

• Both mentioned the Son of Man (Acts 7:55-56; cf. Mt 26:64) Stephen : “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God “

• Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. (Acts 7:60; cf Lk 23:34)

• Lord Jesus, receive my spirit (Acts 7:60)

Charge 1: Stephen Against Moses

• Stephen’s tactic is like Jesus’ – Mk 7:9ff When accused of breaking the traditions of the elders in not washign hands before eating, Jesus accused the Jews of violating the 5th commandment in the use of “Corban”.

• Stephen pointed out – the Israelites had a history of rejecting Moses (Acts 7:35, 39, 42) . Acts 7:52 – “Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him.”

Charge 2: Stephen Against the Temple1. Stephen’s subtle preparation – God cannot be localized

7:2 Mesopotamia, 7:36 “ He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness” 7:33 Mt Sinai (“Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”)

2.Temple is not what God asked for (7:44ff): “ …the tabernacle of the covenant law …had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. … [David] asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

3. Acts 7:48 “The Most High does not live in houses made by human hands.” As the prophet says:

Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord.Or where will my resting place be?Has not my hand made all these things?’ (Isaiah 66:1-2)

Martyrdom of Stephen

The End of Stephen’s life is just the beginning of the spread of Christianity to Antioch and beyond …

Acts 7:54-59

Acts 11:19-20Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.

Is He Just Standing There?

Act 7: 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Lk 22:69 // Mk 14:62 // Mt 26:4

Acts 2:34 citing Ps 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

Col 3:1  I Peter 3:22 Rom 8:34

Dan 7

• 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Application• Do you imitate Christ, Like Stephen, who imitated Christ all the

way till death?

• Biblical visions are recorded for us to see also. Do you see the son of Man standing at the right hand of God, and what is your response?

Stephen: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” – that is all Stephen had.

We: “Lord Jesus, receive my all”.

“Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.” - Isaac Watts