The Lifting of the Veil
Acts 15:20–21
by
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The Book of Acts forms a divine bridge between the Gospels and the letters of Peter and Paul, etc. Without Acts we’d be at a tremendous loss, not knowing what happened in Jerusalem after the resurrection with the subsequent giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. We also wouldn’t know of the many thousands of Jewish people who came to believe in Yeshua*1* (the Hebrew name for Jesus) and we wouldn’t realize what Peter, Stephen or Philip did, nor what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. We also wouldn’t know anything about how the question of ‘Gentile salvation and the Law of Moses’ was settled in Acts 15, which is vital for us today. Salvation is based on biblical faith in Jesus plus nothing else. There’s no law or good deed that anyone can do that will transform his nature into the nature of Yeshua. That’s why the keeping of the Law can never give anyone eternal life. Justification by faith is the gracious work of the Father through His Son for forgiveness, transformation and eternal glorification. The Church (collectively consisting of all organized churches) teaches that the Law of Moses was nullified by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. The Feasts of Israel, the dietary laws and the 7th day Sabbath are ‘only for the Jews who rejected Jesus’ and who are still ‘under the Law.’ Christians are ‘under Grace’ and free from the Law, or as F. F. Bruce wrote, Christianity is a ‘law-free gospel.’*2* Acts 15 is a major place in Scripture that the Church points to in order to prove its position. The chapter deals with the issue of whether Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and keep the Law, along with their faith in Yeshua, in order to be saved (Acts 15:1, 5). The Church supports its teaching of a ‘law free Gospel’ by misinterpreting the four rules of James (Acts 15:20). Theologians teach that the rules apply to table fellowship and that these are the only rules or laws for Christians other than the moral laws. Their anti-Law theology*3* supports their false perception. This in turn sets up their inability to correctly understand the meaning of the next verse (v. 21), where James speaks of the Law of Moses being taught in the synagogues every Sabbath day. F. F. Bruce spoke of the Council of Acts 15 as ‘epoch-making.’*4* Howard Marshall agreed and believes it was theologically important because, ‘Luke’s account of the discussion regarding the relation of the Gentiles to the law (sic) of Moses forms the center of Acts both structurally and theologically.’*5* Marshall and Bruce are right about the importance of Acts 15, but they fail to understand its meaning and implications. The words of James are nothing less than the fulcrum point where the Law of Moses is declared valid for all believers, but it’s at this crucial point that the Church falters by creating a theological veil so thick that it has kept Christians from seeing their ancient Hebraic heritage—how the Father wants them to walk out their faith in His Son. This failure in turn has led the Church into anti-Semitism and pagan celebrations ‘in the Name of Jesus,’ neither of which Jesus, James or Paul ever intended. Almost two thousand years ago, in 48 AD, all the believing Jewish Apostles and Elders of Jerusalem assembled to discuss the matter of Gentile belief in the Jewish Messiah (Acts 15:6). They needed to know exactly what constituted salvation for the Gentile. Paul, Barnabas and others from the congregation of Antioch were also there that day. The Jewish leadership in faraway Antioch had requested a ruling.*6* Acts 15:1-2 states, “Some men came down from Judah and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ Footnotes: *1* Some places in Acts where Jews believe in Yeshua are Acts 2:41, 47; 4:14; 5:14; 6:1, 7; 9:31, 35, 42; 13:43; 14:1; 17:1-4, 10-12; 18:4, 8, 19-21; 21:20. *2* F. F. Bruce, Author; Gordon D. Fee, General Editor, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Book of the Acts (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 285. *3* Church theology on the Law has been challenged in the last 35 years by E. P. Sanders (Paul and Palestinian Judaism; 1977), James Dunn (The Theology of Paul the Apostle; 1998) and N. T. Wright (Paul: In Fresh Perspective; 2005). Equating the Law of Moses with legalism is finally being seen as a perversion and caricature of God’s holy Law (Rom. 3:31; 7:7, 12, 14). *4* Bruce, The Book of the Acts, p. 282. *5* I. Howard Marshall, M.A., B.D., Ph.D., Author; Professor R.V.G. Tasker, M.A., B.D., General Editor, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: Acts (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2000), p. 242. *6*Antioch was 300 miles (482 kilometers) from Jerusalem. It had a population of 500,000, 70,000 of which were Jews. ‘Josephus ranked it as the third greatest city of the Roman Empire, behind Rome and Alexandria’ (Josephus, Jewish Wars 3.29); http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Acts/Gentile-Mission-Antioch.
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The Lifting of the Veil breaks fresh, new ground for Acts 15:2021. The Church, interpreting the four rules as table fellowship, completely misses God’s point. Understood from The Hebraic Perspective the four rules are the theological pillars that establish Mosaic Law for every Christian. John Abernathy of Texas, USA, wrote: A ground breaking, incredibly valuable work! Essential for a clear understanding of Scripture!…I believe Avram has done a fabulous job of research, with detailed and well documented arguments. He has to work hard to build his case. I think that he does so in a compelling manner. What makes his job hard is the incredible lack of insight shown by commentaries and commentators, who seem blinded…by their own preconceptions. Many thanks to Avram for his effort! Timothy Beukman of Cape Town, South Africa said, I have read many views on Acts 15 and never have I read what you wrote in your book. I commend your diligent research and understanding of the passage. It far supersedes many messianic teachers and pastors alike. Your layout and interaction with the material is great. This was a great book! Thank you so much! Donna Klindt of Cody, Wyoming, USA wrote, Art Katz said, ‘What we read should be an event in our lives if it bears the words of life from our living God.’ Your book is an event in my life! It has been consuming, confirming and challenging, all at the same time! Thank you, precious brother, thank you, and not just you, but our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah!
About the Author
Avram was born in Brooklyn, NY on 24 May 1951, and circumcised eight days later. His heart was circumcised in October 1975. He established and led The Seed of Abraham, the first Hebraic Perspective congregation in Tulsa, OK, from 1983 to 1998. He and his wife Ruti also lived in Israel for 16 years (1995-1997 and 1999-2013) and witnessed to thousands of Israelis about Messiah Yeshua. Avram also trains and ordains men to begin affiliate congregations of The Seed of Abraham in their own cities.