Not Paul, but Jesus · Jeremy Bentham
SECTION 4.
RESULT, SUPPOSED APOSTOLIC DECREE AND LETTER TO ANTIOCH, WHICH, PER ACTS, PAUL CIRCULATES. Of a decision, agreed upon and pronounced to the above effect--a decision expressed by a decree;--and of a copy of that decree, included in and prefaced by a letter addressed to the saints at Antioch,--were Paul and Barnabas, along with others who were associated with them, on their return to that city, the bearers:--that is to say, if, as to these matters, credence is given, to the statement, made by the author of the Acts; by whom the alleged decree and letter are given, in words, which, according to him, were their very words:--these words are those which follow: ACTS 15:22 to 32. 22. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.--And they wrote letters by them after this manner: The Apostles and elders, and brethren, _send_ greeting 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 keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:--It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,--Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.--We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.--For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;--That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.--So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.--_Which_ when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.--And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed _them_.
Supposing it genuine,--a most curious, important and interesting document, this letter and decree must be allowed to be. Supposing it genuine: and, in favor of its genuineness, reasons present themselves, which, so long as they remain unopposed, and no preponderating reasons in support of the contrary opinion are produced, must decide our judgment. Not long after the account of the acceptance given at Antioch to this decision,--comes that of a conjunct missionary excursion from that place made by Paul, with Timotheus, and perhaps Silas, for his companion. At the very commencement of this excursion--if, in the decree spoken of, this decree is to be understood as included; and there seems no reason why it should not be, they are represented as taking an active part in the distribution of it. Acts 16:4. "And says the historian, as they" (Paul, &c.) "went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders that were at Jerusalem." That, by Paul, this token, of association with the Apostles, should at that time be exhibited and made manifest, seems altogether natural. It affords a further proof, of the need, which, at that period of his labors, he regarded himself as having, of the appearance--the outward signs at least--of a connection with the Apostles.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.