Interplanner
Well-known member
Like Gal 2, it is easier to understand the solution of a problem that came up in Acts 15, not just because it is a similar problem to Gal 2, but because the problem of both is 'on-stage'. Otherwise, things get referred to 2nd hand and it is harder to see (the group in Col 2 with their vain philosophy, for ex.)
The question is not the larger question of the council ('Must Gentiles be circumcised and required to obey the whole law?') but just what, exactly, the 'words of the prophets agree with' in v15.
Barnabas and Paul explained how God worked through them among Gentiles. v12
James then spoke up: Peter has described (v7) how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. He says that's what the prophets agree with, v14-15.
The quote from Amos is that after the exile, God will "return" (in the sense of close involvement) and rebuild David's fallen tent. v16 That is the prophet, and the 'taking' is what the prophet agrees with.
The reason for doing this ("raising the fallen tent") is so the rest of mankind (the remnant in it) would seek the Lord. v17
This has been known for ages, but the text notes show that it is not quite clear whether Amos meant we readers have known this for ages. v18 Maybe he did mean just God knew. The NIV alternate is "Known to the Lord for ages is his work." (Sounds like the Lord only).
That's an interesting stop because James spoke to show agreement with the prophets.
What happened in the retelling of the young church's history that agreed? What agreed with v12? It was that Gentiles believed as had been the plan (whether known also to mankind or not).
Now on one key connective: v17 starts by connecting v16 to the rest (or Amos 9:11 to 12). The fallen tent is rebuilt so that the nations would seek the Lord. This is not in the future because they are seeking then--that was Paul's report. (Of course it was in Amos future, and after the exile). The 'fallen tent' is a picture for us to understand the humble, early church and how Gentiles were coming in. Even though Amos knew the temple was gone, or would be, there was this hope for Israel. ( I have heard it said that the raised tent was Christ's resurrection because he 'tented' among us is found in Jn 1; I don't know enough about the tabernacle festival to say).
What was the 'at first' of James in v14? It was mission effort in the early church. The supernatural one where Peter was planted where he would preach to them and had the supporting vision of the sheet.
And how would this effort, this outreach, have been known for ages to men--if that is what the text favors? Gen 12, 15. In the Seed, all the nations would be blessed by the Gospel. And many, many passages through the OT; but Gen 12, 15 was used in Acts 3.
The question is not the larger question of the council ('Must Gentiles be circumcised and required to obey the whole law?') but just what, exactly, the 'words of the prophets agree with' in v15.
Barnabas and Paul explained how God worked through them among Gentiles. v12
James then spoke up: Peter has described (v7) how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. He says that's what the prophets agree with, v14-15.
The quote from Amos is that after the exile, God will "return" (in the sense of close involvement) and rebuild David's fallen tent. v16 That is the prophet, and the 'taking' is what the prophet agrees with.
The reason for doing this ("raising the fallen tent") is so the rest of mankind (the remnant in it) would seek the Lord. v17
This has been known for ages, but the text notes show that it is not quite clear whether Amos meant we readers have known this for ages. v18 Maybe he did mean just God knew. The NIV alternate is "Known to the Lord for ages is his work." (Sounds like the Lord only).
That's an interesting stop because James spoke to show agreement with the prophets.
What happened in the retelling of the young church's history that agreed? What agreed with v12? It was that Gentiles believed as had been the plan (whether known also to mankind or not).
Now on one key connective: v17 starts by connecting v16 to the rest (or Amos 9:11 to 12). The fallen tent is rebuilt so that the nations would seek the Lord. This is not in the future because they are seeking then--that was Paul's report. (Of course it was in Amos future, and after the exile). The 'fallen tent' is a picture for us to understand the humble, early church and how Gentiles were coming in. Even though Amos knew the temple was gone, or would be, there was this hope for Israel. ( I have heard it said that the raised tent was Christ's resurrection because he 'tented' among us is found in Jn 1; I don't know enough about the tabernacle festival to say).
What was the 'at first' of James in v14? It was mission effort in the early church. The supernatural one where Peter was planted where he would preach to them and had the supporting vision of the sheet.
And how would this effort, this outreach, have been known for ages to men--if that is what the text favors? Gen 12, 15. In the Seed, all the nations would be blessed by the Gospel. And many, many passages through the OT; but Gen 12, 15 was used in Acts 3.
Last edited:
