ATONEMENT
A DAY OF COVERING
By Elder Dave Ganton
On the tenth day of the seventh month on the sacred calendar is
the day of atonement. It is a day we are commanded to afflict ourselves by
fasting from evening to evening. It is a Holy Day and a day of sacred assembly.
You can read about it in LEV.23:26-32 You
will find all of the rituals surrounding this day of Atonement in LEV.16:1-34
This is telling about the selection of the two goats, one for sacrifice and one
for carrying the sins of the people into the wilderness. You can read more about
this in HEB.9:1-10 the day of Atonement. In this study we will
cover this very Holy time from a different viewpoint. We will investigate and
come to understand what true fasting is and how it applies to us as Yahweh’s
people. We will also see another important aspect of this day that may not be
evident at first. This is a most Holy day that only superficially involves food.
Don’t misunderstand me. We are to abstain from food on this day as Yahweh said
and afflict ourselves but that is only a very small part of what the day of
Atonement represents.
We
are told in JOHN 4:24 that Elohim is Spirit and they that worship Him must
worship in spirit and truth. At repentance and immersion into the name of
Yahshua, Yahweh gives us His gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth
JOHN 16:13; JOHN 14:17,
and to enable us to think on the spiritual plane so He can teach us the deep
things of
His word. We should begin
this and all studies with prayer to Yahweh for understanding and enlightenment.
Knowledge comes from study, understanding comes from Yahweh through the Holy
Spirit.
There
is something very special about the day of Atonement that goes unnoticed by many
of the Sabbath and Holy day keeping groups. Yahweh begins the year on the first
day of the month Abib in the spring of the year. EX.12:2 However there are two exceptions to this rule. The seventh year land Sabbath
and the year of Jubilee. These years both begin on the tenth day of the seventh
month, Tishri, LEV.25:1-11
Atonement. This day and
these years are very special to Yahweh and He wants them have special meaning
for us. One must never take lightly or just observe the times that Yahweh says
are special and Holy. All things Yahweh does are to teach us a very valuable
lesson. Atonement is no exception.
HUMILIATION
As
an aside here, I would like to relate to you something that happened to me on
the day of Atonement many years ago when I was new to the faith that impressed
on my mind, never to take lightly what Yahweh says. I was baptized in August, a
couple of months before this fast day. As it approached and some of us were
discussing it I mentioned that it would be a breeze to fast for twenty four
hours as I never ate breakfast and seldom ate lunch. I usually had one big meal
a day in the evening. Looking back, I can see that I was actually saying this
would be no affliction at all.
When
Atonement arrived I was not the least bit concerned. Services were at two
o’clock but as noon approached I began to get a terrible headache like I had
never experienced. By the time we arrived at services I was very nauseous, dizzy
and weak. I could hardly function because my headache was so severe.
The minister asked me if I was a coffee drinker and I said I was, 8-10
cups a day. He said I had a caffeine withdrawal headache and it would be okay if
I went home and laid down until sunset. By the time I arrived home I could
barely function. I went to my room and knelt down to ask Yahweh to take away the
headache. When I bowed my head the pain seemed not quite so bad. I thought that
I had received the answer to my prayer. I thanked Yahweh but when I arose from
my knees my head began to pound again so I knelt back down beside my bed and
bowed my head onto my hands once again and the pain subsided to just a dull
ache. I decided to stay there where it didn’t hurt. Since I was on my knees
anyway I decided it would be a good time to talk over many things with Yahweh in
prayer. I remained on my knees with my head bowed for the remaining three hours
of the day of Atonement.
When
sundown came I got up and went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. Before I
had finished my coffee my headache was gone. It amazed me that a couple of sips
of coffee could work so fast. Being new to the faith, it didn’t dawn on me for
a few days what had really happened.
A
few days later as I was studying, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had made
light of a day Yahweh calls Holy and He had humbled me. He not only made me
kneel before Him, He made me bow before Him for three hours. I was more ashamed
and embarrassed than I have ever been. Scriptures came to my mind and two really
hit hard ISA. 45:23; ROM. 14:11.
I had learned a lesson
that I will never forget. It also started me on a very deep study of this very
Holy day of Atonement so that I would be assured never to make common, a time
that Yahweh calls Holy. It is this study that I share with you in this article.
The
first thing to understand is that abstaining from food is only a very small part
of this day. As mentioned before, the Sabbatical year and the Jubilee year both
begin on this day. There is a very good reason that Yahweh has made these times
all interconnect. They are all concerning the same subject. Oppression, lack of
forgiveness and greed. Once one understands why the Sabbatical year and year of
Jubilee were necessary for the people of Israel then we will begin to understand
what true fasting is.
In
another study concerning the Sabbatical and Jubilee we discovered that these
were both years of release and restoration. Release of slaves, release of debts,
and restoration of property to its rightful owner. We saw that these times both
connected to Yahshua and the release and restoration that came to us through his
sacrifice on our behalf. This day of Atonement also connects to Yahshua and what
He expects of us as his followers.
RELEASE
NECESSARY
The
land Sabbath was necessary because people were enslaving other people less
fortunate than themselves. They were doing this because of debts owed and taken
out in forced human labour. Why was this allowed By Yahweh? We will see before
this study is done that Yahweh does not condone slavery. Why then was this
allowed? For the same reason that Moses allowed divorce. The hardness of the
people’s hearts and the lack of forgiveness they were willing to exhibit. This
brings us to poverty. There have always been poor people in all lands including
Israel. Has Yahweh failed to provide for the poor? I was told once, that very
thing.
To
help us to understand, let us turn to a parable of Yahshua and statement that He
made to a rich man. LUKE 12:16-20
This man had a great
harvest with enough to last for many years. He decided to store it up, live off
the proceeds and take a long vacation. Elohim called him a fool because his life
would be required of him that night and then who would possess his wealth.
In
MATT.19:16-20
Yahshua tells this rich
man to obey the commandments if he wishes to enter into life. This man had kept
these from his youth but Yahshua told him he still lacked something. He was to
give his wealth to the poor and follow Yahshua. He left sad because his wealth
was more important than obeying Yahshua. On the surface he was doing the right
things. Under scrutiny, the hardness of his heart was revealed.
What
does this tell us? Yahweh has provided for the poor through their fellow man. To
some He gives an excess and He expects them to share this excess with those who
don’t have enough. Yahweh talks about this in the books of the law and also in
the writings of the new testament. We are told not to close our hand to the
poor. A better rendering is, don’t close your heart to the poor.
The
following all tell us how Yahweh has provided for the poor:
DEUT.24:19-21;
LEV.19:9_10; DEUT. 15:7-9; PROV.21:13; JAS.2:15-16; 1 JOHN 3:17; LUKE 6:34-36.
This
is the way Yahweh wants it but because of the hardness of people’s hearts, the
year of release and the leveling of society is needed.
There
is an old saying;” The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” This is not
the case when Yahweh’s law is properly administered. How did land come into
the hands of those who don’t own it making the year of Jubilee necessary? For
the same reason. The hardness of people’s hearts. Their unwillingness to share
with those less fortunate than they are. Some had to sell because of poverty.
Some of those that bought did so from greed. Yahweh allotted to each tribe of
Israel certain portions of the promised land. Within each portion, land was
allotted to each family. This was their heritage forever, as promised to
Abraham. Some lost this heritage due to poverty and others perhaps because of
poor management. Some lost their heritage to pay debts. The year of Jubilee was
a year of restoration of this heritage, and freedom from the bondage of debts.
In
Yahweh’s perfect society all would care for each other. This of course is not
yet Yahweh’s perfect society, administered by Yahshua and those in the first
fruits harvest so these times of restoration and release are necessary.
So
far we have briefly covered the rituals surrounding the day of Atonement. We
have covered the connection between Atonement and the Sabbath of land rest and
Jubilee year. Let us now cover another aspect of the day of Atonement and
complete the connection of all of these very Holy times so that you will never
fall into the trap that I did many years ago and lightly esteem one of
Yahweh’s special times.
A
DAY ACCEPTABLE TO YAHWEH
Have
you ever wondered why we are commanded to fast on this day? I have heard sermons
and read articles stating that as we fast our thinking becomes clearer and it is
easier to meditate and pray so we come closer to Yahweh. They also state that it
is good for our bodies as it gets rid of toxins in our systems. This is all true
and as one’s head becomes clearer during the day one can pray much better,
but it goes much deeper than physical deprivation of our bodies.
Is
Yahweh concerned only with our physical abstention from food on this day or does
He wish us to learn something spiritual from our fasting? We will come to
understand that this is the case and just what true fasting is.
Turn
to ISA.58:1-11 and read this very carefully along with, LUKE 4:16-20 . Take note
of what Yahshua came to proclaim. He not only came to declare it. He came to do
it. We will examine these two scriptures in detail shortly. First, let’s read,
1 JOHN 2:6. We are told that if we say we abide in Yahshua we should walk as He
walked. He set the example for us and as His ambassadors (2 COR.5:20)
we are to represent Him exactly as He is. We are to be growing to be
exactly as He is. (EPH.4:13)
Let
us return to LUKE 4:16-20. Yahshua said He was anointed to preach good news to
the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind,
and to set free those that are oppressed. He was also to proclaim the acceptable
year of Yahweh. His message was one of freedom and renewal. In a previous study
we saw that Yahshua began His ministry at the beginning of a Sabbatical year and
continued through the year of Jubilee. Both of these times represent His message
of
freedom and renewal. These times both begin on the day of Atonement. renewal.
Let
us now turn back to,
ISA. 58:1-9.
Note verse 1. Yahweh says,” lift up your voice like a trumpet.”
(LEV.25:9; NUMBERS 10:10)
Trumpets
were to announce special, Holy times. A trumpet or rams horn is very clear and
loud in its sounding. It gets the attention of its hearers. Yahweh wants us to
give special attention to what He is telling us through Isaiah. He is talking
about fasting. Yahweh commanded a fast on the day of Atonement but what kind of
fasting is acceptable to Him? In verses 3 to 5 He tells us the kind of fast that
He takes no pleasure in. His people thought that they were doing right but they
had totally missed the point of the day. We must not fall prey to this improper
kind of fasting, just abstaining from food and enduring the day. It is not a day
to be endured. It is a day to be delighted in as are all of the Holy Days and
Sabbaths. (ISA. 58:13)
What
the people are doing in verse 5 seems to be right, on the surface. Humbling
oneself, and bowing the head. However,
what seems right to us may not be. (PROV.14:12)
I
want you to meditate very carefully on these verses and you will see a definite
parallel to the Sabbatical year, Jubilee, Atonement and Yahshua’s reading in
the synagogue. Verse 6; This is the fast that Yahweh chooses. To loose the bonds
of wickedness, (Rashaw, Heb. sin ) To undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the
oppressed go free, (Compare to Luke 4:18) and to break every yoke. slavery
in its many forms.
Verse
7; To share your bread with the hungry. (Remember, some have too much and some
have not enough. Yahweh has let this happen to see if those He has given an excess to will be faithful administrators and
share with those less fortunate.) And bring the homeless poor into your house.
Notice, its not enough to just throw them a few cents or dollars, but we are to
take them into our home. This is Yahweh’s will.
Should
we obey? Some might say,” In this day and age of violence that could be very
dangerous.” If one does take a homeless one into ones home because of knowing
Yahweh’s word, do you not think that Yahweh could and would protect that one
from harm? ISA. 50:2 Yahweh has the
same power to deliver and protect that He has always had. The one you take into
your home is not in control. Yahweh is.
When
we see the naked, to cover him. The sense of the word “naked” is, in need of
proper clothing and care, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh. (This
last part is rather a poor translation of the Hebrew which means literally,
“and do not hide your eyes from seeing his need.”) HEB.13:12 Could Yahweh
perhaps test one of us in this way?
Notice
the end of verse 9. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, and the
pointing of the finger, (literally, “Push away by accusation.” Perhaps
harmful gossip or rumour) and the speaking of wickedness. (evil, harmful
talking) Verse 10 If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire
of the afflicted. ( the sense of the word “afflicted” is downtrodden and
unhappy or lonely. Perhaps the elderly who are alone and also the terminally ill
who have no hope for the future.) [ Wouldn’t it be wonderful to assure them
they do have a future through Yahshua the Messiah] This is what Yahweh calls
fasting that is acceptable to Him.
Notice
now verses 8, 9, the last part of 10 and 11. These are the blessings that will
be automatically applied by Yahweh when He is pleased with our fast. Take
special note of verse 10.
Yahweh says that our light
will rise in the darkness and our darkness will be as the noonday sun.
Yahshua
said He was the light of the world. JOHN 8:12;
JOHN 9:5. He also said we are the light of the world. MATT. 5:14 Yahshua
is the exact representation of the Father and reflects His glory. HEB.1:3 Yahweh
is light. 1
JOHN 1:5 Yahshua reflects
this light and we reflect that light to the world through the Holy Spirit which
He has given us. This is not a harsh blinding light, but a soft warm glow. That
same appealing glow that attracted us to this way of life.
We
reflect this light through the fruit of the Spirit which grows within us.
GAL.5:22-23
kindness (Greek, chrestotes). Another is love.
1 COR. 13
It is this kind of love
that Yahweh and Yahshua show us. This love grows in us through the fruit of the
spirit and this is the love we are to show others. This love inspires true
fasting that is acceptable to Yahweh.
A
LIFE OF FASTING
Is
this fasting that is acceptable to Yahweh to take place only one day a year? Are
we to grant release, which is actually forgiveness, kindness, thoughtfulness,
and generosity once every seven and fifty years? I know you will answer no to
all of the above. This is what Yahweh is trying to teach us through the
Sabbatical year, Jubilee year and the day of Atonement. Our life in Yahweh is a
continual fast. Not a fast from food and water, but a fast from evil, oppression
of others, and the keeping of records of evils others commit against us.
Our
fast begins on the day we answer the call to follow Yahshua. We can no longer
feast on the evils that those of the world do. These lead to dissatisfaction,
disappointment and in the end, death. Our fasting in Yahweh leads to love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, and self control,
and in the end, eternal life. This is our true food and against these there is
no law. GAL.5:22-23
As
we approach the day of Atonement and the beginning of the Sabbatical year, let
us meditate on these things and keep a fast that is truly acceptable to Yahweh.
May Yahweh bless your studies. HalleluYah!!! Elder Dave Ganton
Here is a refreshingly new look at the events surrounding the Apostolic Council in Acts 15 by a man who has stressed Torah observance for quite some time.
Eph.
2:19-20, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of Elohim; and are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahoshua the Messiah himself
being the chief corner stone.” [KJV]
The
point of the above scripture is to point out the fact that, as gentiles brought
into the household of Elohim, we are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, the Messiah being the chief corner stone. This is important
because when we look at the question of whether or not we as believers in
Messiah need to be seeking to follow and fulfill all the Torah in the sense of
keeping the laws, statutes and judgments, we must turn to the apostles and their
teaching on the matter as they are a crucial part of the foundation upon which
we are to be built.
What
better place to start with this question than with the apostles, as, I will
hopefully demonstrate, they in fact encountered this very question, came
together to consider it, and addressed it head on, leaving us with great
insight.
By
what authority do we believe what we believe? Since it was the apostles who
walked, talked, and were taught by the Messiah himself, I strongly urge us to
search out what the apostles (Paul included) had to say about this subject of
whether or not Gentiles were to keep Torah. In general, the teaching of the
apostles is so important, not only because it was the apostles who were given
the “great commission,” but also because we have written history (book of
Acts) as a witness and testimony as to the outworking and performance of this
“great commission.” This brings us to one of the most recognized portions of
scripture with regards to the law and the teaching of the apostles. Acts chapter
15.
When
the subject of law keeping comes up, much has been said about the Acts 15
controversy, and rightfully so. Why? What was the controversy? I believe, if we
let the scripture speak for itself, we will find that the controversy in Acts 15
was precisely about the issue of whether Gentiles who believe in the Messiah
need to practice and “keep” Torah in the covenant sense. As someone who was
taught that we are
to keep the law, I am familiar with the argument that this controversy found in
Acts 15 is not about keeping the law (circumcision included), rather, it’s
about keeping the law as
a requirement for salvation.
What’s the difference? Is there a difference?
I
believe that many very sincere people have been misled regarding this matter. I
will attempt to show why my understanding is that, the issue the apostles were
dealing with was, in fact, Torah observance for Gentiles in general. Now I know that statement may cause some to have a reflexive action
towards me, leading one to think of me as a “nominal Christian,” bent on
running from the authority of the Torah. But for truth’s sake, please hear me
out. If I am wrong in my understanding I need to be corrected in love. Do
remember, I used to believe that, as believers in Messiah, we are to keep Torah
fully. If you have not read my testimony, please do so.
What
we find in Acts 15 is some sort of dispute over some obviously controversial
doctrinal issue. This controversy happened very early on in the “church” and
seems to be linked to the recent admission of the Gentiles into the body of
believers. The issue at hand being discussed by the apostles is clearly
regarding (in some way) circumcision, Torah, and Gentile converts. To what
extent can we pin-point the “real” problem behind the controversy, and what
will it means in terms of our
question? We will see, but first, I believe it is important that we understand at least a little bit of background of the time period in which
the text of Acts 15 fits.
1ST
CENTURY CONTEXT
The
first thing that we must do before looking at the actual text of Acts chapter 15
is realize the historical context in which the circumstances fit. We will touch
on this only briefly as time does not permit the space it deserves. Please study
the historical context of 1st
Century further in your own time as it is vital to our understanding of the New
Testament Scriptures.
Most
denominational Christians have been taught that 1st
Century Judaism was a religion of works-based salvation, legalistic
self-righteousness, void of grace and forgiveness. And until recently, this
image of the historical backdrop on which the Messiah Yeshua fits, has gone
unchallenged. However, recent scholarship, beginning around the 1900’s, has
shown consistently that the Protestant view of 1st Century Judaism is mostly incorrect. The common scare of
– “good works may lead to a works-based salvation” that is so prevalent in
Christianity today, is largely due to the Reformers views in light of the
Catholic Church and all their “works” that were “required for
salvation.” The idea that the historical religious backdrop during the time of
Yeshua consisted of a works salvation, no forgiveness, relationship with Elohim,
is flat out wrong. The fact is, and scholarship has shown, the Jews believed
heavily in Elohim’s grace and forgiveness. They never thought they could
“earn” their way into “heaven.” They understood that it was by
Yahweh’s grace that they were chosen to be His people.
They saw salvation as a covenant issue, not a works issue. Once you were in covenant with YHWH (saved) you were expected, as part of His covenant people, to follow the instruction, or Torah, that distinguished you as “His people.”
Once again, the Jews of the Second-Temple period did not
believe you could be saved by works. They strongly depended upon Yah’s grace
and forgiveness as He made provision for them through the Temple sacrificial
system. With that said, I would like to point out the fact that the problem
within the context of 1st
Century Judaism was not “works salvation,” even though you were to
“keep” the Torah as it was the covenant document. The bigger problem was
“national righteousness.” The Jews understood that they were Elohim’s
covenant people by
grace, but what prevailed
in their attitude was the fact that they were “Elohim’s Chosen People!”
Instead of being a light to the world in humility and love, Israel was puffed up
by their man covenant “badges” that set them apart from the “unclean”
Gentiles. As “Elohim’s Chosen People,” the Jews were very conscious of the
need to retain their Israelite identity (outward signs), which acted as
boundary-markers between them and the Evil Unclean Gentiles who were oppressing
them (Judea was under Roman rule). Instead of loving the stranger, as Torah
commanded, the Jews stayed socially divided form the stranger both physically
and spiritually (note Gal. 2:11-13 where Paul writes of a situation regarding
Peter). It was true that Yahweh had specifically chosen Israel, they really were
His “Chosen People.” It was also true that Yahweh chose them to be a light
to the world. Instead of being that light they were found guilty of
“nationalistic pride,” all in the name of Torah. Though much more time is needed in dealing with this subject, this brief
overview will have to suffice for now. It is important that we have some idea of
the historical backdrop upon which the controversy of Acts 15 sits.
ACTS
15 CONTROVERSY
As
we begin in Acts chapter 15, I would like to mention the general direction that
I am taking. I believe, if we let the scripture speak for itself, we will find
that the controversy in Acts 15 was precisely about the issue of whether
Gentiles who believe in the Messiah need to practice and “keep” Torah in the
covenant sense.
As
someone who has taught that we are to keep the law (Torah), I am familiar with
the argument that this controversy found in Acts 15 is not about keeping the
law, rather, it’s about keeping the law as a requirement for salvation. It is said that the entire chapter has to be read in light of it’s
context which is verse one. 15:1, “And certain men which came down from Judaea
taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of
Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Notice that they said “ye cannot be saved.”
It seems obvious that these “certain men” could be guilty of teaching
circumcision as a requirement for salvation. However, is this what the apostles
came together about? Was the “apostolic council” specifically about the
issue of circumcision as a requirement for salvation? I believe that if we read
the entire text of Acts chapter 15, we will see that, while the issue in verse 1
did play an integral part in bringing the apostles together, the context in
which the “apostolic council” was formed is not over the issue of verse 1
but rather the “new” issue of verse 5.
15:1
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of
Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2
When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with
them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should
go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3
and being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and
Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy
unto all the brethren.
4
and when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of
the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that Elohim had done with
them.
5
But there rose up certain of the sect of
the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them,
and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6
And the apostles and elders came together for to consider this matter.
After
Paul and Barnabas had debated with the “certain men” in verse 1 they
determined to go up to Jerusalem and talk to the apostles and elders about this
question. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were received of the assembly, and
they declared all that Elohim had done with them among the gentiles. Then in
verse 5 we see that “there rose up certain of the sect of the sect of the
Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to
command them to
This
question of whether or not the gentiles must be circumcised was a hot topic as
is clear by the many other times that Paul himself spoke on the matter. Was
physical circumcision necessary for gentiles to enter into covenant and be saved
(in light of Messiah)? In the opinion of many Jews of that time period, the
answer was an emphatic YES! In Gen. 17:10-14 it is clearly spelled out that, not only is circumcision the “token” or
sign of the covenant, but for a male not to be circumcised was the
equivalent of breaking Yahweh’s covenant. You were to be cut off from His covenant people. Circumcision was one of the defining marks of who
Yahweh’s people were, as was the Torah in general. One who becomes circumcised
is acknowledging that they agree to the terms of the covenant, they are
expressing that which was expressed by the people of Israel in Exodus 24:7. It
must be understood that these two, Torah and circumcision, are virtually
inseparable as Paul makes clear in Galatians 5:3. This very misunderstood fact
shall be further discussed a little later.
“…THIS
MATTER”
It
is important to see that there are two “matters” at hand in the text of Acts
15:1-6. The first matter, in verse 1, was about circumcision being necessary for
the Gentiles to be saves. The second matter, found in verse 5, happened in a
different location than that of verse 1 and is distinctly separate from the
matter in verse 1. It is this matter found in verse 5, that was the direct cause
of the “apostolic council.” Here it is once again….
5.
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying,
That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of
Moses.
6
And the apostles and elders came together
for to consider of this matter.
The
“this matter” spoken of in verse 6 is that of the preceding verse, not that
of verse 1. I will show why this does
and does not make a difference in a moment but first there is something else worth
noting. This issue of Gentiles having to be circumcised and keep Torah was such
a lively topic that before Paul and Barnabas could even voice their reason for
coming to Jerusaem, certain Pharisees in Jerusalem quickly rose up and stated
that it was needful for Gentiles to be circumcised and keep Torah. This is a
witness to what kind of religious climate existed at this time. Also, notice
that, because of verse 5-6, Paul’s overall reason for coming to the apostles
was still being attended to in a broader sense, even though this matter, that of
verse 1, was not the immediate cause of the apostles coming together.
Though
it was his matter in verse 1 that brought them to Jerusalem and led to the
“new” situation found in verse 5, it was not the direct cause of the
“apostolic council.”
To
be Continued……...