Quote:
Originally Posted by djohnson
Ohio I would say lots of speculation on your part!
James set up Paul to take a vow? Paul was in Ephesus and insisted on going to Jerusalem to keep his vow. Even when the Holy Spirit via a prophetess warned him he ignored the warning and still went. Paul was Jewish. That was his Jewish culture coming out.
As far as James "running the show" in Acts 15 again speculation on your part. And a reading of verse 24 is quite telling: "We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said."
|
OK,
DJ, then please clarify me in my speculations --
First, Paul was in Ephesus with the intention to celebrate Pentecost in Jerusalem with his gentile gifts. Where is the talk about the vow in Ephesus? Is there any mention of a vow before James brought up the subject?
Secondly, it is not speculation at all to say that James is "running the show." Gal 1.19 initially lists James after Cephas, but Galatians 2.9 and 12 identify James as foremost in Jerusalem. In Acts 15.13 James gave the concluding word. Acts 21.18 James has become the "minister of the age" in Jerusalem. Read
Aron's long post for further support.
Acts 15.25 is to me conflicting. James issues a public disclaimer of "no authorization," yet what happened to Peter in Antioch? It sounds like double-talk to me. Official denials, but everybody knows what is going on behind the scenes.
So the speculation boils down to one point -- was the work of the judaizers orchestrated or totally random in nature? If it was orchestrated, then I would suggest James was more than a little involved. Who organized and financed them?