When sharing that I follow Torah with people I often get forwarded to Acts 15 and told that, “Gentiles are not under the law”, but is this true? Lets test it!
I will argue the following:
Acts 15:21 tells the new gentile believers to go to synagogue to continue growing in God’s word learning and applying it to their lives in effort to bring them into the fold of Israel.
OK, let’s see if this is supported by the text.
First, lets deal with the issue of what a “Judaizer” is and is not. A judaizer is a person that teaches a person must convert to judaism to be saved.
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. Acts 15:1-2 ESV
Circumcision here is the official metric for becoming a proselyte to Judaism at the time and still today. So a Judaizer is one who thinks only Jews and converts to judaism can be saved.
A Judaizer is not someone like us who points out that Torah is the standard for God’s people to follow. Look at what Paul has to say in Ephesians.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
We are not saved BY our works, we are saved FOR good works. That is our purpose as followers of Messiah. Doing what God has said is good is how we love God (Deut 6:5) and our neighbor (Lev 19:18).
OK, Back to Acts 15. I’ll discuss all of James’ address where v21 is the concluding statement. Here it is all in context.
After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’ Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” – Acts 15:13-21 ESV
Now I’ll break it down.
After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
James commands the attention of the assembly.
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
Abram was a gentile, the son of an idol maker, and God chose Him to build a people for himself and renamed him Abraham and gave him the covenant promise.
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
James is quoting Amos 9 here. The “tent of David” is the Tabernacle/ Temple”. According to Jesus, he rebuilt the temple in 3 days (John 2:18-22) He of course was speaking of his own resurrection to life which enabled him to enter into the true spiritual heavenly temple to serve there as our High Priest. The physical temple will be rebuilt again, this is still future to us. The Temple is rebuilt for what purpose? So that ALL who are called by God’s Name can come to worship, which includes “the remnant of mankind”, and all the gentiles called by God’s name. Now would be a good time to read Isaiah 56. Everyone right now has direct access to God through Messiah Jesus, the son of David, branch of Jesse. When he returns to earth as king, he will no longer be our high priest (Hebrews 8:4)
says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.’
God makes everything known through his prophets. Amos 3 tells us that he does nothing without revealing it to the prophets first. If we are astute students of the scriptures, we should be able to share the gospel with nothing but the Torah and Prophets just like Paul did, which both are the foundation of our faith.
Therefore
This is an important word. “therefore” is a linking term that means “considering all that was just said”.
Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
Why should they not trouble the Gentiles who turn to God? Because it is fully evident that they have been called by God himself. The evidence is that they have been given the Holy Spirit, as previously discussed in the chapter.
but
Another important word. What does “but” mean? “But” here is an interjection that is an exception. “we should not trouble the gentiles who turn to God EXCEPT…”
but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
James gives them sound advice to begin their walk with God. He gives them these four issues which are all torah commands they were violating daily as pagans living in a pagan culture with pagan leaders family and friends.
Here are some places to find these regulations in Torah. (strangled meat has the blood still inside it, so this is really an issue of blood also)
- Idols: Ex 20, Lev 19, Lev 26, Deut 12
- Sexual Immorality: Lev 18
- Strangled Meat & Eating Blood: Lev 3, Lev 7, Lev 17, Lev 19, Deut 12, Deut 15
Now we get to verse 21.
For
This word is VERY IMPORTANT here. What does “for” mean? It means “because”. It connects the previous thoughts with a new thought.
For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” – Acts 15:13-21 ESV
I’m sure you realize that “Moses” here is a colloquial way of saying Torah. Moses is who wrote Torah.
So, linguistically James says, “we should not trouble the Gentiles (except these 4 things) BECAUSE the Torah is read on Sabbath in the synagogues”
Now lets hide the exception for a moment to read without that interjection.
We should not trouble the Gentiles BECAUSE the TORAH is read ON SABBATH in the SYNAGOGUES
Wow. That is plain as day. James expected gentiles (because they were called by God) to go to synagogue to hear his Word. Why would they want to hear the Torah which is God’s Word? Because they had received the Holy Spirit which is our guide, who prompts us to grow in God! Because basically no one at that time owned many books. It was exceedingly expensive. The Synagogue was a communal place to hear God’s Word be proclaimed. A community of Jews would save for years to purchase a Torah scroll. A scribe would painstakingly copy one taking around a year to do so. A hand copied Torah scroll TODAY costs $30,000 – $50,000 with our modern ease of access to materials.
The only reason we have any promise or hope is because God has shared with us in His Word, which was written for our benefit (1 Corinthians 10:6).
