Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 99
Chapter Eight—Did Jesus Die on the Cross and Ascend to Heaven? 99 silence by the Apostles and others. They were alarmed at the devi- ation, and some of them went from Judea to the centre of Paul’s work and told the new converts that except by faithful obedience to the Law and scrupulous observance of its ordinances such as circumcision after the manner of Moses they could not be saved. 1 Consequently, great strife and dispute arose between them and Paul. It caused Paul to go with certain of his party to Jerusalem, where a meeting was convened to consider the matter and was attended by the Apostles, elders and other disciples. Violent and hot discussions followed. Paul’s work, by this time, had made decisive progress, and it was almost impossible for the Apostles to stop it. On the other hand, preachers to the Jews could not make any progress and were gradually despairing of any victory against Judaism. Under the influence of these two factors Peter rose and upheld the view of Paul. In the end, James made a speech, and concluded (Acts 15:19): Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God. Finally, the following letter was written to them: The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and 1. The Acts 15:1