The Relationship of Jewish and Gentile Believers to the Law Between A.D. 30 and 70 in the Scripture

137 issue. The subject and decision of the council involved the relationship of Gentiles to the Law, not Jews. The believers in this chapter were clearly only concerned with their own lifestyle and that of their Jewish brothers who lived outside the land (21:21, 25). To say that they "strictly observed the law and expected all believers to do the same" 224 misrepresents the situation. Furthermore, the wording of the text indicates that the people of whom James speaks are not a sect or particular group. All that distinguished them was that they were Jewish believers as opposed to Gentile believers (21:25). Otherwise , James affirms of those who have believed "they are all zealous for the Law" (m:XVTE<; sTJAWTai 225 TOO voµou unapxouat v , 21: 20). Rather than being a fringe group, James speaks about the mainstream. Finally, Luke is clear that a difference does exist between the laity and the leadership, but it is not in their relationship to the Law; rather, it is their knowledge about the rumor concern– ing Paul. James and the elders know the rumor to be false but the people are not so sure . ,.,. Because of Paul 's previous meetings with the leadership (Gal 2:1-10; Acts 15) they knew him personally and were convinced of his stand but because of his time spent outside of Palestine, as Paul admits, he was not well known by the Churches in Judea (Gal 1:22-24). 226 The implication of James' statement is that when Paul demonstrates his stand publicly 'all will know" as we already know "that there is nothing to the thing which they have been told about you . . . (21: 24)." Thus , Paul 's actions hould be under tood a paradigmati of hi under tanding of all Jewi h believer rather than an anomaly by which he ace mmodated a 224Ibid. 22 The word hould be und r to d in a g n ral L a "The rd ha n te hnical m aning . h ' th t n me be ore A .D . , " L , Be inn;ng, 4 : 71. 26 lt i und r t m l ti n r of nthu i m r p t ' did n t i t 1 etin ith th "p11la " ( in id ms did httl t 1 n 11 1 m un il , but 1t i 1th th " th u nd "