June 6, 2010
Evening Service

Acts 15

 

Review chapter 14.

1. Great multitudes are now being converted to Christianity.  We have already seen in chapter 11 that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch in Syria.
2. God working miracles through the Apostle Paul, and Barnabas.
3. Even though stoned, the Apostles keep preaching the Word.
4. The Apostles give their report to the church at Antioch on the completion of their first trip.

 

In chapter 15 we will see the first Council of the Church.  This article is found in Wikipedia.

The Acts of the Apostles records the Council of Jerusalem, which addressed the tension between maintaining Jewish practices in the early Christian community with Gentile converts. Although its decisions are accepted by all Christians^[1] and later definitions of an ecumenical council appear to conform to this sole biblical Council, no Christian church calls it a mere ecumenical council, but the "apostolic council" or "council of Jerusalem".

• One writer commented that up until this time the church was moving smoothly along, with only Satan attacking from without.  Now he has changed his tactics, he is striking from within the church to cause dissension.

Act 15:1-41  And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 

• Certain men, meaning converted Jews.
• Came down from Judea.  Jerusalem is in Judea.  There were many Jewish converts to Christianity in Judea.
• Taught the brethren, gentile converts, that they had to be circumcised according to the law in order to be saved.
• To a Jew this was a very important act.  And many of them actually thought that Christianity would not replace Judaism, but perfect it.
• This is a good question, and must be dealt with.

(2)  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them,

• No small dissension, means they had a big dissension with them.  Big argument.

they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 

• Now here we see where the authority is in the church at this time.  Not Rome.

(3)  And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 

• Notice again the joy, and attitude of the disciples.  Love, and care.

(4)  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.  (5)  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 

• It should be noted, and recognized that there are still people who teach, and believe this.  Why they can’t accept the Word of God is beyond me.

(6)  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.  (7)  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  (8)  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;  (9)  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

(10)  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon 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, even as they. 

• Peter’s vote is no to keeping the law for salvation.  It is by grace, through faith.

(12)  Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 

• Paul and Barnabas also vote no.

(13)  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:  (14)  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.  (15)  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,  (16)  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:  (17)  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.  (18)  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.  (19)  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:  (20)  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.  (21)  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 

• James’s vote is no.

(22)  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 

• The apostles, elders, and the whole church, vote no.
• And here we meet Silas, later to be Paul’s companion.

(23)  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.  (24)  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:  (25)  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  (26)  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (27)  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.  (28)  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;  (29)  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well, Fare ye well. 

• Now you see this is the time, that if it was needful for salvation to keep the law of Moses, to have said it.  And they would’ve.  Just these four things are what gentiles are encouraged to refrain from.
• Today there are those that would teach you, as Christians, that you should keep the Jewish Sabbath, their feast days, the eating of certain meats, and the such, but you can see what God requires.  If you didn’t study your Bible and know these things you might come under conviction that they were right.
• Further in Paul’s writings he discusses the law, and tells us that it was a schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, but when we accept Christ we are no longer under a schoolmaster, but under Christ.  We could go on, and on with this subject, and Lord willing we will discuss it further when we come to it in Paul’s teachings.

(30)  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:  (31)  Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.  (32)  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 

(33)  And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.  (34)  Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.  (35)  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.  (36)  And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.  (37)  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.  (38)  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.  (39)  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;  (40)  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.  (41)  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

• It should be noted that this was quite an argument that these two Apostles had.  This should be a lesson to us, that when Paul told the people that “we are men of like passions as you are.”  That this included all passions. 
• This was no doubt a spur of the moment argument, and later both men would get back together for work.  Along with John Mark.

 

So we leave Barnabas, and John Mark in Cyprus, which is Barnabas’s home place..

And Paul and Silas going through Turkey confirming the churches. 

 

Sunday morning we will meet another very important disciple.