A Study in Acts

Part 18

 

We finished in Act 14 with Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch, as their “home church”, relating all that had happened on what has become know as Paul’s first missionary journey. We also, in chapter 14, saw the departure of Mark from the team. Now we enter Chapter Act 15, lets look at the last two verses of 14, to set our timeline and context.

 

Act 14:27-28: 27.  And when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  28.  So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.  

 

Both Paul and Barnabas were overjoyed with the salvation of the Gentiles, they had been rejected in each city by the Jews, even stoned and the population of believing Gentiles was growing. God had promised and prophesied in the Word that the Jews would reject Jesus and that would open the way to the Gentiles.

 

Act 15: 1-2: 1.  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.  2.  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

 

There is a lot happening in these two verses. We do not know the amount of time that passed during these two verses, but let’s look at what is implied here.

 

First Paul and Barnabas return from their first missionary trip, the Word says they stayed in Antioch a long time. Long enough that Word again reached Jerusalem and the question of practicing the Law in addition to believing in Jesus reared it’s head. This time in the form of the question of circumcision. Circumcision was a very important issue at that time. It was a sign to the Jews of God’s covenant to them. A short review of covenants of the time reveals the shedding of blood. After studying for this lesson, I through prayer and meditation, came to realize that as the years went by, it was more a physical symbol rather that a spiritual one.

 

Deuteronomy 30:16: 6.  And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

 

This is Moses talking to the nation of Israel in the wilderness, clearly the act of circumcision is a physical act representative of a spiritual.  It is carried into the New Testament:

Paul explains this fully in several of His letters. I am not going to read them all to you, nor breakdown the timeline of when the letters were written. I want us to realize that the superior feelings of entitlement that many of the Jewish believers had as evidenced by the demand for circumcision of Gentle believers is an example of this.

 

Let me give you one example:

Romans 2: 27-29: 27.  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?  28.  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:  29.  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

Circumcision is a very important issue with the Jewish nation at this time. It is the mark that separates them from the heathens.  So, we have Paul and Barnabas, along with the Church in Antioch continuing to grow. But then we see “certain men coming down from Judea.” Many commentaries explain that the term, “came down from” or “go up to”, references the physical geographic location of Jerusalem, because it is located on a hill and at that time to enter the city, one had to climb to reach it. An interesting note. Generally, all reference used this way refer to Jerusalem itself, in context of the growth of the Church, with the church in Jerusalem still being the “mother” church as it were.

 

 It is interesting that Luke says the men came down from Judea. Meaning they may not have been sent by the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Another interesting thought along these lines is Peter had already brought this question before the church after the salvation of Cornelius and his household. They did not require the circumcision of Gentile believers then, so why now. Unfortunately, we see throughout the remainder of this book and later in Paul’s letters, several episodes of the Jews “coming together” with the new church, which includes large numbers of Gentile believers, but yet keeping themselves separate from them. The question of circumcision and adherence to the “law of Moses” is the banner under which this is proclaimed. As we have seen throughout history, religion and true conversion based on repentance and acceptance of Jesus’ work on the cross do not go hand in hand. Religion is a set of rules and regulations that must be followed. We must remember what Jesus said.

 

Matthew 11: 29-30: 29.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  30.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

Believing in Jesus, accepting Him as your Lord and Savior is a change in your heart. It is death of the carnal, sinful you and the new birth of the changed you. You follow the teachings of Christ because you want to, not because you have to. This is important for us to grasp, we are to be servants, because we want to, not slaves because of rules and regulations. As you follow the leading of the Holy spirit in your life, you grow and serve because of your love of Christ and your devotion to the things of God, not because of rules and regulations. Jesus set us free from the “choking nature” of the law. This is one of the important truths Paul and Barnabas taught. You are saved through grace not actions!

 

So, we see in these two verses that these men from Judea, brought confusion to the church by saying that you cannot be saved unless you were circumcised, an act of the Law. Luke tells us that “Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them.”  Wow, this is so profound. As believers we want to sit back and think that there was no disagreement, no discord in the church at this time. But as we study, we see that just like every generation, there is always disagreement. You won’t disagree with or contend with anyone until you reach heaven and that is just a fact. None of us have all the answers. I do believe that the Lord reveals His truths to certain people through the Holy Spirit and that Paul and Barnabas were an example of two of these people. Yet, here we are with people who think they know more than those chosen of God. This is an important subject. We as believers need to be so full of the Holy Spirit that we are led by the spirit in everything. That we recognize truth, warping of the truth and out right lies. You can get led down the wrong path quickly if you, yourself do not know what the Word says about a certain subject and be led by the Holy Spirit on how to understand it. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing.” This is so important. If we do not pray, ask for wisdom, we cannot truly understand the “truth that will make you free.”  This is what being a believer is all about, studying , praying and constantly growing in truth.

 

So let’s get back to verse 2, These men causes a “ruckus” in the Church in Antioch. This verse in the KJV and NKJV and many other translations is “no small dissension and disputation”. I am just going to put this out there, if it is not a small dissension than it is a large dissension or disagreement. In other words, things got pretty hot between Paul and Barnabas and these men. So much so that it is decided that they need to go to Jerusalem and put this whole issue before the church leaders. We see in our study that Paul takes several trips to Jerusalem during His ministry. To clarify I found this quick list I want to review.

 

• Paul’s first trip to Jerusalem, after his conversion, is described in Galatians 1:18-24 and in Acts 9:26-30. On this trip Paul introduced himself through Barnabas to the apostles Peter and James and did some preaching in their company.
• A subsequent trip is mentioned in Acts 11:28-30, in which Paul and Barnabas carried the first relief funds to Jerusalem from Antioch in Syria.
• A third trip is described in Galatians 2:1-10 and in Acts 15. Between his first and second missionary journeys, Paul met with the apostles to discuss his doctrine which they commended.
• A final trip (the latter part of Paul’s third missionary journey) is recorded in Romans 15:25-28, 1Corinthians 16:1-4 and Acts 21:15-18. Paul and others carried a gathered contribution to Jerusalem for the needy saints.

 

So, now we’re are looking at Paul’s third trip to Jerusalem. Let’s quickly look at the remaining verses in this section.

 

Acts 15:2-31: 2.  Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.  3.  So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.  4.  And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.  5.  But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.''  6.  So the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.  7.  And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.  8.  "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, 9.  "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  10.  "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  11.  "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.''  12.  Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.  13.  And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:  14.  "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.  15.  "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:  16.  `After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, 17.  so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.'  18.  "Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19.  "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,  20.  "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.  21.  "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.''  22.  Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.  23.  They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.  24.  Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, `You must be circumcised and keep the law' to whom we gave no such commandment   25.  it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  26.  men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  27.  We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.  28.  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:  29.  that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.    30.  So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.  31.  When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

 

So, to sum up this section. Paul and Barnabas travel to Jerusalem, along the way they preach and teach, glorifying God and all He has in the conversion of the Gentiles under their ministry. Notice they do not discuss the question of circumcision at all. So, they arrive in Jerusalem, have a very heated discussion over the issue, Peter has to get up and remind everyone of his experience with Cornelius.  To me there are a few important verses that stand out.

 

Acts 15: 10-11: 10.  "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  11.  "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.''

 

Peter points out that first they are testing God,  which is a sin, second they are trying to place the yoke of the law on the Gentiles, which even the Jews could not bear and then last that salvation comes through Grace and Grace alone, to all, not just to the Jew. (I would add, not just to the Jew because of circumcision.) I then see in the people being reminded of the Words of the prophets with the conclusion that this burden should not be placed on the Gentiles. They then agree on what should be required of the newly converted Gentiles and send a letter back to the church in Antioch with this decision.

 

There are 4 things that they felt led of the Holy Spirit to relay. I want you to take the time to read carefully verses 22-31. I am going to just summarize the requirements but know this was led by the Holy Spirit. It does not end the controversy but eases it for a short time.

 

The four requirements are these: to abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled and from sexual immorality. All of these things have to do with idol worship, the sacrificing of meat, the blood offerings, the manner of death for the offerings and the sexual immorality surrounding the worship of the god’s of this time. You may not think this important for us today, but it is. One example is food is offered to and left in front of statues of Buddha, satanism involves blood sacrifices and despite our denial it is still practiced, and of course sexual immorality. Which even in the church today by many believers is put into a separate area of their lives and not associated with the holiness of today. Studies today have shown that sex before marriage is just a prevalent in the church as in the world. Single, widowed or divorced “believers” do not see the problem inherent in these choices. Let us continue to pray for the church today, that it will seek the spiritual then fleshly holiness that separates us from the world. There is so much desensitizing of our morals today, in all aspects of our lives. We must continue to pray and stand for holiness and Godliness in ourselves and each other.  Then pray for God to help us, as women of God to teach “young” women of God how to live. How to walk. How to make Godly decisions. Show them how to study and rightly discern the Word. We are called to disciple and mentor and we need to step up and do what God has called us to do. Do not count yourself out, because you are older, or have not lived a Godly life before. You are here now and that is all that matters. God wants to use us all. Let us be sensitive to the leading of the Holy spirit and follow God’s plan. Amen?