This week:
Jews and Christians
Road 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.
Early Christianity and Judaism
Major 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 Note
Acts 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
Gamaliel
Johanan ben Zakkai
Paul
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.
• 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.
Stephen
Now 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 Temple
1. 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 7:5459
Acts 11:19-20
Now 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