Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 219
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212 LIFE OF PAUL . suea coursefortheremovalof allmisapprehension. They respondedto histestimonyinthese words : " Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe,and they areallzealousof thelaw. And they areinformed of thee, that thou teachestalltheJews which are among theGentilestoforsakeMoses,sayingthat they ought not to circumcisetheir children, neither to walk after the customs . What is it therefore ? the multitude must needs come together; for they willhear that thou artcome. Do thereforethisthat we say tothee: We have four men which have a vow on them ; them take, and purifythyselfwiththem,and be at charges with them ,that they may shave theirheads ; and all may know that those things, whereof they were informedconcerningthee,arenothing; but that thou thyselfalsowalkest orderly,and keepestthelaw. As touchingtheGentileswhichbelieve,we have writtenand concludedthatthey observeno suchthing,save only thattheykeep themselvesfrom thingsofferedtoidols,and from blood,and fromstrangled,and from fornication." The brethrenhopedthatby thisactPaulmight givea decisivecontradictionof the falsereports concerninghim . But while James assured Paul thatthedecisionof theformercouncil(Acts15) concerningthe Gentileconverts and the ceremoniallaw stillheldgood,theadvicegivenwas not consistent with that decision which had also been sanctionedby the Holy Spirit. The Spiritof God didnotprompt thisadvice. Itwas thefruit of cowardice. By non-conformityto the ceremoniallaw,Christianswould bring upon themselvesthe hatredof the unbelievingJews, and expose themselvesto severepersecution. The