Today’s Readings – Friday of week 5 of Easter - First Reading

Commentary on Acts 15:22-31

Having decided that circumcision should no longer be imposed on non-Jewish converts, the community leaders together with the whole church gathered together in Jerusalem to promulgate their decision to the wider Church.

They sent a delegation to Antioch in Syria, which was effectively the centre of the Greek-speaking Christians (both Jews and Gentiles). Wisely, the delegation included representatives from the Jerusalem community. Among those from Jerusalem three leaders are mentioned: Judas, Barsabbas and Silas. It is not clear who Barsabbas is but in the first chapter of Acts we are told that a Joseph Barsabbas was one of the two candidates chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. But, as we know, “the lot fell on Matthias”. Silas became … Continue

Yesterday’s Readings – Thursday of week 5 of Easter - First Reading

Commentary on Acts 15:7-21

Today we have the second and final part of the “Council of Jerusalem". The issue has been discussed in depth and we now are given the conclusions of the assembly. We will see the implementation of these conclusions in tomorrow’s read … Continue