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

45 In order to demonstrate this thesis we will now interpret and evaluate four stories in the book which are most relevant to the relationship of the Gentile mission to the nation of Israel and her Law. These four incidents include (1) the martyrdom of Stephen (6 :1- 8:2), (2) the salvation of Cornelius (10: 1- 11 :18) , (3) the Jerusalem Council (15 :1- 16:3), and the purification of Paul (21 :19-26) . Acts 6: 1-8:2, Stephen and the Hellenists By anyone's standards the role of Stephen and the Hellenists in chapters six and seven is critical to the development of the message of Acts. Neil comments on the variety of ways in which Stephen has been understood, "On the basis of this speech , Stephen has been variously described as an Essene , an ultra-orthodox Jewish-Christian supporter of James the Lord's brother , a radical Hellenist , or as the real founder of the mission to the Gentiles. " 4 The story of Stephen clearly stands as some kind of transition between the earlie t success of the Gospel in Jerusalem (1-5) and its spread to regions beyond , the first of which i Samaria (8:2) . The goal of this section briefly is to understand the meaning of the Stephen incident 5 (6: 1- 8:2) and then to determine what role it plays in the thematic development of Acts. The discussion will begin with what is considered a one of the defining compon nt of 4 William eil, The Act , New entury Bibi mm ntar (Grand Rapid : rdm n , 1973), 107 . eil continue to de cribe hi own , nd what i pr babl th m t p pul r, i of t phen , "It ha been argued that it mark teph n out a a to ring th I gi al niu ' who 1 pleading f r the r j cti n of th Jeru alem T mpl and it ult th nti l pr lud t a hn t1 n mt ion to th am rit n . . . . n l r tud it r l it lf ubtl nd 1lful proclamati n f th o p l hi h, in it riti i m f J i h in tituti n , m rk th be mnm o th b tw n Judai m nd hri ti nit , " Ibid . A on eni nt ut h 11 nt tI , nd ht mtr du t r , ht a tu l