13 - The Opened Door

Fourteen years had passed since Paul last saw Jerusalem. His previous visit with Barnabas at the beginning of his ministry lasted only a day or two, and he hadn’t even looked around. Now the city was so changed, he barely recognized it. The streets were filled with emaciated beggars from the famine, and the Court of the Gentiles overflowed with the poor, who came to the charitable institutions for a handful of dried figs, or a measure of barley. Judea was suffering under a double plague. Besides the famine, there was the burden of taxes imposed by Herod Agrippa.

Agrippa was not a raw tyrant like his great-grandfather, but neither was he a true patriot, although he tried to present himself as such after the experience in Alexandria. He ingratiated himself with the priesthood by bringing sacrifices of oxen and other cattle, and by carrying his basket on his own shoulders on the Day of First Fruits. This so hoodwinked some of the rabbis that they held him up as a model to the people.

But in his provincial residence, away from the eyes of the people of Jerusalem, he built sports arenas, theaters, and circuses, instituted gladiatorial combats, and didn’t hesitate to pollute the soil of Palestine with combats between men and wild beasts. He convinced the Jerusalem rabbis that he pursued these heathen practices, not because he wanted to, but as a matter of politics. For he wasn’t just the King of Judea, he was also ruler of the pagan provinces.

And all the time, he squeezed labor and money out of the masses.

As bad as the condition of the general population was, it was even worse for believers, who once again lived their lives in terror. They stopped winning new souls, and once again fell back into a self-contained communal life. Most of them met outside the city in the large court of Mary, Barnabas’ sister. Others wandered the streets hungry and half-naked. James spent whole days in prayer and fasting. He attracted a large group of Pharisees, including his brother Jude, and they all spent so much time in prayer on the marble steps of the Temple Court, that their knees became hard and their legs stiff like the hind legs of a camel.


Now Simon Peter wasn’t happy with the believers’ inactivity. He was at the peak of his strength, and though he looked old, he was still only in his mid-fifties. During the eighteen years since Christ’s death, Simon had preached the resurrection to every corner of the Holy Land. He’d been to Joppa, Caesarea, and Samaria, and had become willing to lighten the burden of Jewish Law just a tad in order to draw in Gentile converts.

James, on the other hand, kept a watchful eye and a firm hand on congregational affairs. He shuddered at the thought of believers diminishing their devotion to traditional Judaism by even one iota. Whenever he heard of any laxity in regard to orthodox observances, he sent messengers at once with stern instructions to correct the situation. Communities trembled at the thought of his displeasure. Even Peter looked up to him.

It was to James that Paul wanted to bring Titus as his demonstration of the perfection the non-Israelite could achieve without conversion to traditional Judaism.

The believers, however, under the rigorous spiritual rule of James, wouldn’t even talk to Titus, let alone admit him to the common meals. How could they possibly break bread with one who was uncircumcised? They looked suspiciously at Paul for introducing this temptation and stumbling block into the congregation of Jerusalem.

But Paul was determined to spin a thread between Titus and James that could later be drawn around all the uncircumcised who wanted admission into the congregation.

Titus himself wandered the streets of Jerusalem like a confused and bewildered soul. Everything was so strange. There was the vast flood of pilgrims in their multicolored robes, exotic gestures, and queer, outlandish customs, and he was impressed by the grandeur of the Temple. He was forbidden, of course, to go beyond the Court of the Gentiles but he felt the awe and devotion of the pious multitudes when they brought their sacrifices. He saw countless worshipers lying with their faces pressed to the marble floor of the court, and the whole tremendous picture of faith and surrender was indescribably impressive.

Yet it left him cold, and feeling like an outsider.

He’d abandoned his own temples and his own gods, but he couldn’t be admitted to this Temple and this God. Paul hadn’t given him a Jewish redeemer, but a God he could accept naturally, like he’d once accepted his fathers’ gods. He had no connection with all this that was going on around him.

This then was Paul’s desire, to bring the heavily yoked James together with this spoiled child of the Gentile world, who was forgiven by the grace of faith.


Even though Simon Peter lived under the influence of James, Paul felt he’d be a sympathetic listener. Simon lived with his wife in Mary’s house, a good distance from the place where James gathered the Pharisees around him. So Paul headed there first.

Simon sat in Mary’s garden and listened with lively emotion to the story of Paul and Barnabas’ memorable journey through Galatia. Paul described in detail the rebirth experienced by the uncircumcised Gentiles when they entered the faith.

He also gave Simon the money the Gentiles had sent to the poor of Jerusalem as proof that the lord had performed a miracle among them and that God desired that the Gentiles should come to him.

“Take away the stumbling stone of the law, and the whole world will stream to Mount Zion,” said Paul. “Prayer houses will rise up in all cities, even in the most remote villages. Wherever man lives, the Name of God and of Christ will be spoken. With you taking the news of Messiah to the House of Israel, and me taking the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles, all men will come together and the Kingdom of heaven will begin on earth.”

Simon listened attentively, his heart filled with joy. But he also shared James’ fear that vast multitudes of Gentiles streaming into the congregation without taking on the Jewish yoke, would overwhelm the Jews with the power of the heathen spirit. The Gentiles would not become Jews. The Jews would become Gentiles. When he spoke those fears, Paul rushed to reassure him.

“Would you like to see the miracle of faith in the Gentile? I’ve brought him with me. He’s uncircumcised in the flesh, but in the spirit he’s a child of Abraham. Would you see him and put him to the test, Simon?”

“Yes, I’ll see him. Bring him to me so I can see this miracle for myself.”

So Paul went out, brought Titus in secretly, and presented him to Simon Peter.

Standing before someone who’d been privileged to serve Jesus in his lifetime, Titus’ knees shook. He didn’t know whether to stand there or to fall at the man’s feet.

Simon looked at the tall, handsome young man and into the simple blue eyes that dared not look at him but were turned downward in modesty and awe. Titus scarcely dared breath. But Simon put his hands on his shoulders, and said, “It’s all right, my son. Tell me, what brought you to the God of Israel? And what brought you into the congregation of believers in Messiah?”

“It was my hunger for the truth, and for the meaning of our existence. I found these in the one living God and Creator. My desire was to be redeemed from my sins, and to be part of the grace that promises me the help of Christ. My teacher and guide, Paul, taught me these things.”

Simon pondered the answer. Surely this was a declaration of faith in the God of Israel. But he probed deeper.

“And what obligations does this faith in the living God of Israel and your acceptance into the congregation of Messiah bring?”

“I’m obligated to live out my life in the grace of faith, and to accept the life of our lord Jesus as my ever-present model. I’m obligated to love those who hate me, to bless those who curse me, and to drive all evil thoughts from my heart. The lord died for me and he is in me. Therefore I do all things as if he were in my place.”

“And do you know, my son, that in acknowledging the one living God of Israel, and in believing in Messiah, you are a son of Abraham, and you must carry on your body the sign of the covenant between Abraham and God?”

“My teacher and guide, Paul, taught me that we Gentiles are free from the yoke of the law and that we are under the sign of the grace of faith, that by our faith alone we become children of Abraham.”

“But suppose your teachers and guides tell you that in order to become truly a child of Abraham you must have the sign of the covenant on your body. What then, my son?” asked Simon.

Titus grew silent and visibly pale. Paul did also.

Then Titus recovered his self-assurance and answered in a firm voice, “Did not the lord Jesus suffer and die for me? Though I live in the flesh, in the spirit I live in him. Therefore my flesh and my blood and my limbs are his. And if my teachers and guides in the faith should tell me that I must let my body be burned in the fire for the sake of the lord, I would surely do it. Do with me what seems best in your eyes.”

“You may be uncircumcised,” answered Simon, “but you are truly a faithful son of our father Abraham. God grant that such as yourself multiply among the Gentiles.”

Kissing the young man on both cheeks with the kiss of peace, Simon Peter sat down to eat with the uncircumcised convert.


Simon brought a full report of his conversation with Titus to James, who listened in thoughtful silence. His recent uneasiness over the influx of Gentiles into the ranks of believers was evident. He couldn’t help but rejoice in the grace of God bestowed on the Gentiles, but he trembled lest Israel be carried away and lost in the tide of the Gentiles.

He knew a final decision must be made, for this question was being asked everywhere congregations were arising. The Gentiles were knocking loudly on the doors, and it was impossible to keep those doors closed to them.

James, Simon and John were considered the three pillars of the faith, and all of them had aged beyond their years. Perhaps this was the result of their many fasts and self-mortifications, or perhaps it had to do with their longing for a death that would make them eternal witnesses of the faith. These three called the other leaders of the Jerusalem congregation together in the old dwelling place in the David wall.

Many new faces were also present. There were old men with white beards, and large fringed garments thrown over their sackcloth clothing, Pharisees mostly. They sat on low stools, or on the ground below the original disciples. There were also younger men whose beards were still black. Particularly prominent was James’ brother Jude, a swarthy young man who looked a lot like him. He had a dark, lustrous beard, and lively coal black eyes. Though he was comparatively young, he was seated in a rank above the older sages. As a member of the holy family, his rank was next to that of his brother.

James conducted the meeting.

The Lord’s Prayer was recited, and James said a brief prayer to ask for the intercession of the Holy Spirit, that it might rest with them during their deliberations.

First on the agenda was the report of the apostles. Barnabas did the talking rather than Paul, since he alone had gone out with the authority of the congregation.

Barnabas told the story of their travels through the Gentile cities. He pointed out that everywhere they went, they followed the original instruction of Messiah to go first to the House of Israel. Many Jews had converted and fully accepted the faith. Others had refused. This caused dissension, sometimes leading to physical clashes. Barnabas also told of the wonders and signs Paul performed. Barnabas gave all credit to the powerful gift of his companion’s speech, placing himself in the background of the story.

He told the story of their mission to the Gentiles in even greater detail. He wanted the assembly to understand beyond any doubt that God’s compassion had been directed to the Gentiles, and that He had prepared their hearts for salvation. They were begging to be allowed into the faith. As an example of the power of conversion in the lives of the Gentiles, they’d brought an uncircumcised convert with them, whom Simon had already met. Furthermore, there were the gifts the converted Gentiles had sent, proving beyond all doubt that the virtue of compassion had been implanted in them.

The assembly listened to the long report attentively. There was open joy and tears of gratitude on many faces, but there were also faces that grew dark. Some even began to burn with suppressed indignation. Voices were raised, asking for permission to speak. The first such voice was sharply against admitting the uncircumcised.

“Anyone who doesn’t have the courage to be circumcised for the sake of the God of Israel isn’t worthy of admission into Messiah’s congregation. We can only admit those who have the strength to give their blood to the covenant.”

A few voices called out in protest at this. One voice, louder and more insistent than the others, was that of a Hellenist leader named Silas. He was a man who knew well the ways of the Gentiles, and he defended the uncircumcised converts.

“God created all people according to their separate natures, and faith must follow the nature of the person. Only then can it be solid and enduring.”

Barsabas, another Hellenist Jew also came to the defense of the uncircumcised converts.

James signalled for quiet and asked Paul whether he had anything to add to the report of his companion.

And of course he did. He was doing everything he could to keep his passions in check, and he intended to reinforce Barnabas’ speech with his own. To that end he decided to first talk about the law before he took up the topic of the Gentiles.

“What law is strong enough,” he began, “to throw an iron circle around our desires, lusts, and passions? The serpents of sin will always find a crack in the wall, wide enough to get through, as long as they feel that a welcome awaits them inside. What law is so all-embracing that it could cover every little act if man’s heart itself is a swamp of unclean things? How many messengers will you have to send to the Gentile cities to keep watch over all the transgressions and ensure that every fence the rabbis have erected around our lives still stands?

“And let me ask this. Do we who stand under the sign of the law comply with the law? Who of us is blameless? So what other law could tear the nature of the Gentiles out by its roots, if the law of the one living God can’t?

“It is the law of Christ that has taken the Gentiles’ granite hearts, crushed them, and made them soft as sponges to suck up the balm of compassion that falls from heaven. I brought them faith in the one living God they’ve never seen nor heard. I brought them faith in a Christ who was scourged, tortured, and crucified, and they cast away their gods of power, perfection, and beauty, for Christ.

“And now they are prepared to let their bodies be burned for the God of Israel. Who awakened this thirst for salvation in their hearts if not God Himself? And if these blossoms are planted in the hearts of the Gentiles, would you uproot them? Let Christ perform his wonders and gather up the people of the world as the reaper gathers up the sheaves. All nations will bow the knee to the righteous redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, and all men will be brothers in a common bond of faith. The glory of God will be poured out on the entire world, fulfilling the words of the prophet, ‘the lowland will be lifted up and the mountain will be brought low. The crooked will be straightened out and the rough places made smooth. And the glory of God will be revealed and all will see it.’”

Paul’s speech was more passionate than he’d intended, and it had its effect. Even the faces of the oldest disciples, which had remained somber during Barnabas’ speech, lightened up a bit. But the protest from the other side was equally as vigorous. Among those grouped around James there was a sharp unrest, a muttering and whispering, portents of an approaching storm. Jude, James’ young brother, stood up to speak.

“With the permission of my rabbis and guides, I will ask the apostle one question: what will be the Gentiles’ guide if not the law entrusted to us? Who is strong enough and great enough to place the responsibility for all human conduct on frail and delicate faith? What is faith without works? Love of God is indeed a high ideal, for anyone who can accomplish it! But we’re only human, with both good and wicked impulses. The world is filled with chaos and confusion, and God has planted this little island called Israel, and has given this island laws and commandments to be our guide. Take away these laws and commandments and we’re carried away by the chaos and confusion of the world. Without them we wander eternally in the desert. Without them there is no salvation.”

“True! True!” cried the men around him. But those cries of approval provoked a counterdemonstration on the other side, and for a moment it seemed the assembly would lapse into utter disorder.

Then Simon Peter arose, and all grew silent to hear what he had to say. “Men and brothers! You know that the lord long ago chose me to tell the Gentiles the good news of redemption. God knows the heart of man, and He pointed to the Gentiles and decreed that the Holy Spirit should rest on them as it does on us. He made no division in this respect between them and us. So why do you put a yoke on the neck of the Gentiles, such as our fathers and we ourselves have not been able to carry? We believe with perfect faith that by the grace of the lord Jesus they will be saved even as we are saved.”

The silence in the room was thick. Peter was taking a stand and the Pharisees’ were thunderstruck.

James was silent throughout the whole passionate debate, weighing each argument. He listened, but neither spoke nor gave any evidence of his feelings. But his mind was working fiercely. He was moved by the wonder of so many conversions, and he wanted to find a way to remove some of the barriers for the Gentiles, and yet leave enough to keep them close to the Jewish congregation.

The ancient sages had taught that it was sufficient for the Gentiles to observe the primal commandments of the sons of Noah: recognition of the one living God, rejection of idol worship, abstention from whoredom, and refrain from eating the flesh of a living animal or of an animal that was strangled. The Gentile converts were already doing these things. So he reached a decision.

“Men and brothers, hear me! The prophet has said, ‘After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David. I will rebuild its ruins, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord among all the people where My Name will be spoken. So says the Lord.’

“Therefore it is my opinion that we not trouble the hearts of the Gentiles who have turned to God, but that we write them that they refrain from the abomination of idolatry, from fornication, from blood, and from the eating of strangled animals. For Moses has his people in every city, who preach his law, and it is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Now that the two most respected men of the congregation, Peter and James, had spoken their views, the controversy was ended.

The assembly resolved to confirm Barnabas and Paul in the apostleship and to send Barsabbas and Silas with them to carry letters to “the Gentile brothers” in Antioch and in Cilicia, bearing greetings, as well as the record of the resolution.

“It has come to our attention that certain of our brothers have gone out among you and troubled you with their speech, and have misled you, saying that you must be circumcised in the flesh and observe the Law of Moses. We have not authorized any such thing. Therefore be it known to you that, having sat in deliberation on this question, we have resolved to send to you our beloved Paul and Barnabas, together with certain other of our men.”


At the first ceremonial meal following the session, Titus the uncircumcised Gentile sat with all the others. True, Jude sat somewhat removed from him and was afraid to touch him, but Simon and James gave him a special welcome. James sat with Titus. They broke bread together, and repeated the prayer of the lord in unison.

This was the happiest day in Paul’s life.