[Neubill]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Acts 14:24-28
Acts 15:1-5

Thank you, Michael for the Scripture references.
You mentioned Abagus and then the Judaizers afterwards, so while I was focusing to find where Acts 11 mentions Judaizers, you weren't referring to Judaizers in chapter 11, but had shifted to Acts 15, and I didn't make the shift in focus with you.

And yes (by the way, I neglected to say this in the previous post ), I agree with you that the trouble started when the Pharisees (probably from the stricter school of Shammai) demanded formal conversion into the Jewish community and adherence to the way the Pharisees interpreted it. You'll recall that Jesus referred to the Pharisees as the ones who occupied the seat of Moses, so they were the ruling authority. If you weren't obeying Torah their way, you weren't obeying it, according to them.

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

If you follow the Antioch timeline they had been in existence for at least 2 or 3 years.

Understood. Again, you're correct in stating the church in Antioch had been around for a few years. Based on human nature however, I'm not convinced that every single person in the group was completely refraining from paganistic activity OUTSIDE of the time when the Antioch assembly gathered together. What they did inside the synagogue was one thing, but what they did outside of it was another. These 4 specific prohibitions addressed the core of pagan practices, so it seems strange to enact these prohibitions if paganism wasn't a problem.

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Two things. When you refer to the Antioch Synagogue do you mean the Assembly of Messianic Believers or the meeting of the non believing Jews?

Neither, Brother. I refer to the meeting place where Moses is read on Shabbat.
It is here where Antioch's traditional Jews, Nazarene Jews, and Gentile Believers gathered to hear the Torah portion of the week and the accompanying Haftorah portion from the Prophets. They did this until the eventual day came when the traditional Jews expelled the Believers from the synagogue.

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Secondly these 4 prohibitions were by no means the beginning of their discipleship. The Antioch Church had been going on for a number of years. Their discipleship began when they repented and were baptized into his name.

This is not consistent with the mannerisms of 1st Century discipleship. If we're referring to an entrance into the Kingdom of G-d, then we're in agreement, but discipleship begins when you learn the ways of the Master/Rabbi/Teacher. I've seen too many people come to repentance, get baptized in Jesus' Name, speak in tongues, and then almost immediately deny Him by their lifestyle, citing, "That Holy Ghost lifestyle's not for me. I can't live THAT way." I'm sorry that we don't agree on this, Michael, but I believe a new convert is not a disciple until he/she chooses to be disciplized, which is to learn the ways of The Master Yeshua, like the Apostles did back then.

A 1st Century disciple of Jesus will learn from the Apostles that The Master kept the Sabbath day holy. A disciple imitates his Master.

May your Sabbath be filled with good food, the fellowship of family and friends, the Good Word, and rest from your labors. May it be for me also, as my family celebrates the One who is the Lord of the Sabbath: Yeshua, ha-Adon b' ha-Shabbat! Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath!

Shabbat Shalom, Michael!