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New Testament History |
The first Apostolic CouncilChrist ordered His Apostles to leave Jerusalem after 12 years.[1] The 12 years are to be reckoned from the first reunion in Jerusalem (36-48 AD) rather than from the crucifixion. The 3 years between the crucifixion and the first reunion (33-36 AD) are linked to the 12 years: “Three years after the Crucifixion all the Apostles met in Jerusalem, after which Peter and John left the city and Mary accompanied the latter to Ephesus. […] When half of the time of Mary’s life after Christ’s Ascension had flown, about the sixth year after that event, the Apostles were again assembled in Jerusalem.”[2] The “half of the time” implies that the 6 years were half of the period between the two reunions, 36 AD-42 AD-48 AD. The Council also came 6 years before the death of the Holy Virgin (48 AD-54 AD). Mark made a journey to Alexandria in the 15th year after the ascension.[3] These represent 15 full years, May 33 AD-48 AD. The reunion came several years after Peter’s imprisonment in 43 AD given that a lot had changed in Jerusalem since that imprisonment.[4] The Holy Virgin did no longer live in Jerusalem.[5] She had left Jerusalem for Ephesus in 39 AD. According to Maria de Agreda, the Holy Virgin attended the first Apostolic Council of Acts 15.[6] A.C.E. does not mention her presence. Yet, given that John always stayed close to the Holy Virgin[7] and that he attended the Council,[8] the Holy Virgin must have been present. When the Holy Virgin and John came back to Jerusalem after 3 years in Ephesus, a Council of the Church took place.[9] A.C.E. thought that the Holy Virgin died in Ephesus in 48 AD (confusing the Holy Virgin’s definite departure from Ephesus in 48 AD with her death). Since the Holy Virgin lived for 9 years in Ephesus (39-48 AD),[10] the 3 years (39-42 AD) came 6 years before her death (42-48 AD) in A.C.E.’s view. The reunion did take place 6 years before the death of the Holy Virgin (in 54 AD), in 48 AD. The Holy Virgin left Ephesus for Jerusalem on 6 July.[11] The Council was held 2 months after she had returned.[12] A.C.E. saw the reunion on Friday 25 August 1820, which was the historical date.[13] Actual 25 August is almost 2 months after the departure from Ephesus on Julian 6 July. Actual 25 August 48 AD = Julian 28 August was Wednesday 30 Av (the New Moon occurred on Monday 29 July at 11:50 UT and on 28 August at 00:04 UT).[14] Forty days of repentance start on 1 Elul, in commemoration of the time that Moses spent on Mount Sinai when he received the new Two Tablets with the Ten Commandments (Exod 34:28; Deut 10:10). The Apostles had to decide on the observation of the Mosaic Law by Gentile Christians during the reunion. Questions (also about Gentile agriculture during the Sabbatical year) were dealt with immediately before the start of the Sabbatical year Tishri 48 AD/Elul 49 AD.[15] The Apostles “drew up the Creed, made rules, relinquished all that they possessed, distributed it to the poor, and divided the Church into dioceses.”[16] Relics of Stephen were venerated.[17] Leaders of the Church (including Peter, John, and Thomas)[18] and Paul (Acts 15:2, 12, 22, 25),[19] though not all the Apostles,[20] were attending. Lazarus was present in secret and afterwards returned to France.[21] The missions faraway began after the Council.[22]
[1] Acts Pet. 5; Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 6.5.43.3 (citing the lost Kerygma Petri): Christ told Peter to preach to the Jews during 12 years and then to go forth into the world; Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 5.18.14 (citing Apollonius): Christ ordered the Apostles not to depart from Jerusalem for 12 years. [2] A.C.E., Life, 4:7. [3] Hist. Patr. Alex. 1.1. [4] A.C.E., Visionen Juli 1820, 123: “Es mußte schon eine geraume Zeit nach der Befreiung Petri aus dem Kerker durch den Engel sein, denn es war vieles anders als damals in der Stadt und in dem Haus, wo sie versammelt waren.” [5] A.C.E., Visionen Juli 1820, 123. [6] Maria de Agreda, Cité, 6:335. [7] A.C.E., Vie, 6:337 (the vision of 27 December 1820). John did, however, sometimes leave the Holy Virgin: A.C.E., Visionen Dezember 1820, 268: “Ich habe dann gesehen, wie er [i.e. John] die heilige Jungfrau bei Ephesus zweimal besuchte und ihr das Sakrament gab und ganz allein bei ihr war”; A.C.E., Visionen Juni 1821, 9/3 (Nachtrag): “Johannes sei dort [i.e. Jerusalem] und in Ephesus nicht immer bei ihr [i.e. the Holy Virgin] gewesen.” [8] A.C.E., Visionen Juli 1820, 120, 122; A.C.E., Visionen August 1820, 251. [9] A.C.E., Mary, 352. [10] A.C.E., Visionen August 1820, 141; A.C.E., Visionen Juli 1821, 121; A.C.E., Mary, 346. [11] Maria de Agreda, Cité, 6:394 (though situated in 41 AD). The Holy Virgin returned to Jerusalem 9 years and 6 months after she had left (5 or 6 January 39 AD-6 July 48 AD). [12] Maria de Agreda, Cité, 6:395. [13] A.C.E., Visionen August 1820, 251: “Sie weiß nicht, warum sie dieses Gesicht gehabt; sie glaubt, es sei vielleicht heute der eigentliche Tag dieser Begebenheit.” In Visionen Juli 1820, 119, A.C.E. saw the reunion on the night of Friday/Saturday 14/15 July 1820. [14] astropixels.com/ephemeris/phasescat/phases0001.html. Reingold and Dershowitz have 1 Elul. Parker and Dubberstein (1956: 47) have 29 Av (with 1 Elul on 30 August). [15] Mahieu 2012:
496. For
the calculation of the Sabbatical year, see Wacholder 1973:
191. [16] A.C.E., Life, 4:7-8. [17] A.C.E., Visionen August 1820, 249. [18] A.C.E., Mary, 352. [19] A.C.E., Visionen Juli 1820, 119, 122. [20] A.C.E., Visionen July 1820, 121-122: “Es waren aber nicht alle zwölf Apostel da zugegen, ich sah etwa nur neun; die anderen schienen mir in der Stadt oder sonst abwesend. […] Als bestimmt anwesend erinnere ich mich Petrus, Johannes, einen kleinen Schwarzen, der mit Jesus verwandt war und nicht weg ging, ich glaube Jakobus […], Paulus, Andreas, Judas Thaddäus, Bartholomäus, der groß war, Barnabas, der sehr schön, schlanck und behend war. Es war wohl noch einer da, aber ich erinnere mich nicht. Einige sind mir nicht so gegenwärtig. Des Matthäus, des Zollners, welches der kleinste von allen war, erinnere ich mich gar nicht. Der, welcher mit Thaddäus ist gemartert worden, Simon, war da.” Cf. unlike Acts 6:2 (which pertains to the first reunion), Acts 15 does not mention “the Twelve” but only “the Apostles.” [21] A.C.E., Visionen August 1820, 310. [22] A.C.E., Life, 4:7-8. |