Moses Is Preached In Every City: The Missing Key to The Jerusalem Decree
The outcome of the Jerusalem Council wasn't simply a welcome letter to the Gentiles; it was a framework for ongoing growth. And without the venue, the synagogue, the letter's guidance falls apart.
The outcome of the Jerusalem Council wasn't simply a welcome letter to the Gentiles; it was a framework for ongoing growth. And the most foundational aspect of this system, the synagogue, is often left out of the equation.
A Quick Recap
We've made the case that the four requirements of Acts 15 may have been an extension of the seven Noahide laws¹. This gave the incoming Gentiles a starting point for participation in the Jewish community short of full conversion.
The Jerusalem decree reads:
"... we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to G_D, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood."
What James, Jesus's brother, says next is one of the most important parts of the letter:
For from ancient times, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” - Acts 15:19-21
This is not a casual observation. It was written with the assumption that readers would be familiar with what a synagogue was and how it functioned, and that they would be present each week.
Arguably, the venue is as important as the letter itself, a package deal.
Born in Exile
Synagogue is actually a loanword from the Greek, but the Hebrew term, beit knesset (בֵּית כְּנֶסֶת), means house of assembly.
Many scholars believe synagogues emerged sometime early in the Babylonian exile, after the destruction of the first Temple. Jewish life had been built around Jerusalem: the altar, the offerings, and the priesthood, but without these, what did it mean to be the people of G_D?
Israel faced an existential crisis.
An Enduring Solution
The synagogue was the solution. Sometimes referred to as a mikdash me'at, a little temple, the synagogue is not a replacement for the Temple.
No matter where Israel found itself, if ten Jewish men could be found, a minyan, a synagogue could be established.
What is interesting is that the synagogue did not cease to exist when the nation returned from exile. By the first century, it had become the backbone of Jewish life, both in Israel and abroad.
What Happens In the Synagogue
Those unfamiliar tend to envision a synagogue as a Jewish church, a place you go once a week for religious services. It's much more.
How to establish and manage a synagogue is not spelled out in the Torah. Rather, this wisdom is sourced from within the Jewish tradition. This institution, and even its physical characteristics, were borrowed by the church, yet most Christians have never visited a synagogue.
The synagogue was simultaneously a house of study, a courthouse, a community center, a treasury, and sometimes a place for travelers to stay.
Since the time of Ezra, the Torah was also read publicly on Mondays and Thursdays², the traditional market days, when people from surrounding villages came into town. People would make their way to the synagogue throughout the week to learn.
Legal disputes and rulings were also adjudicated there, as well as community announcements, and even disciplinary action. This adds insight to Jesus's statement about the Rabbis who sit on the "seat of Moses."³
Also, when Paul wrote about a flogging he received, it likely took place in the local synagogue.
