===Acts 15===
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Acts 15:1-5:
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. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 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. |
This was not a side issue; it had to do with salvation itself – how one is made right with God. This was not a matter where there could be disagreement among believers, with some believing you must be under the law, and some believing it wasn’t important. This was an issue that went to the core of Christianity, and it had to be resolved. i. We can just imagine how Satan wanted to take advantage of this situation. First, he wanted the false doctrine of righteousness by works to succeed. But even if it didn’t, Satan wanted a costly, bitter doctrinal war to completely split and sour the church. This may be the greatest threat to the work of the gospel yet seen in the Book of Acts. --David Guzik;Enduring Word  Cecil Maranville
“And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ 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” (Acts 15:1-2).
The “certain men” are not identified. They were likely members of the Church of God—perhaps people of influence, given the impact their opinion had. Their contention that salvation depended upon physical circumcision created great controversy among the gentiles! It also stirred controversy anew among some Jewish members who were reminded of God’s covenant sign to Abraham. In support of male circumcision for all who would come into the Church, some Pharisees who were now members of the Church expressed concern about faithfulness to “the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5). --Cecil Maranville; Life Hope & Truth; Acts 15: How Was the Law Changed? |
==Acts 15:6-11==========
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Acts 15:6-11:
.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. 
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“The apostles and elders met to consider this question” (v. 6). Perhaps dozens of elders were involved. “After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: `Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe’” (v. 7).
Peter reminded the people that God had used him to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his family (Acts 10). As far as we know, Cornelius was not circumcised, but Peter did not use that precedent as proof. Rather, he focused on the theological foundations of how a person is saved —by believing. “God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith” (vs. 8-9). God gave the Holy Spirit to this uncircumcised family, purifying their hearts, pronouncing them holy, as acceptable to him, because of their faith. Peter then began to scold the people who wanted the Gentiles to obey the laws of Moses: “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are” (vs. 10-11). --Paul Kroll |
When Peter finally stands up, he doesn’t just respond to the presenting issue, but recognizes that Christ’s work was so expansive in its scope that they weren’t just rebuilding a house but resetting the foundation. He frames it in three important ways:
First, he sets a new foundation. While the Pharisees seemed to insist that how they proceed must be based on what God had revealed, Peter opens up their decision-making to include what God is revealing. He recognized that God was doing something new and unexpected, and they need to allow for the actual current work of the Holy Spirit to be considered. The stories of Peter’s, Paul’s, and others’ work among the Gentiles needed to be admissible evidence for discerning the new foundation.
Second, he builds on that foundation. Peter moves from “what must they do to be saved?” to “what have they done to be saved?” The answer: they believed. When they do look around, the evidence is before them that not only have the Gentiles been coming Christ by faith alone, but Christ himself seems to have been accepting them and pouring out the Holy Spirit on them by faith alone as well. Without circumcision or the Mosaic Law, the Holy Spirit was being poured out upon them in equal measure. Which means that it’s really a bit after-the-fact for the Pharisees to be speaking of entrance requirements for salvation. It’s kind of like someone standing on the sidewalk trying to argue about whether or not their new neighbour has met the approval requirements for a mortgage while you are watching them move into their new house. Peter basically tells the Pharisees: if you open your eyes, you’ll see that the deal is done. They have been approved by God through faith alone, and they’ve already moved in!
Third, Peter actually dismantles the old foundation. While the Pharisees are asking for these Gentile Christians to go through the same approval process that they as Jews had to go through, Peter reminds them that this approval process is one they haven’t been able to live up to anyway. If they’re worried about circumcision and the Mosaic Law, they’re not only saying that the Gentiles aren’t saved, but that they themselves aren’t either. The whole point of the Gospel is that the yoke was too heavy. The same grace is needed whether someone has been trying to follow the Law or not. All have sinned, and all have been saved by grace alone. --Al Postma; Executive Director for the CRCNA in Canada, based in Burlington, Ontario.
First, he sets a new foundation. While the Pharisees seemed to insist that how they proceed must be based on what God had revealed, Peter opens up their decision-making to include what God is revealing. He recognized that God was doing something new and unexpected, and they need to allow for the actual current work of the Holy Spirit to be considered. The stories of Peter’s, Paul’s, and others’ work among the Gentiles needed to be admissible evidence for discerning the new foundation.
Second, he builds on that foundation. Peter moves from “what must they do to be saved?” to “what have they done to be saved?” The answer: they believed. When they do look around, the evidence is before them that not only have the Gentiles been coming Christ by faith alone, but Christ himself seems to have been accepting them and pouring out the Holy Spirit on them by faith alone as well. Without circumcision or the Mosaic Law, the Holy Spirit was being poured out upon them in equal measure. Which means that it’s really a bit after-the-fact for the Pharisees to be speaking of entrance requirements for salvation. It’s kind of like someone standing on the sidewalk trying to argue about whether or not their new neighbour has met the approval requirements for a mortgage while you are watching them move into their new house. Peter basically tells the Pharisees: if you open your eyes, you’ll see that the deal is done. They have been approved by God through faith alone, and they’ve already moved in!
Third, Peter actually dismantles the old foundation. While the Pharisees are asking for these Gentile Christians to go through the same approval process that they as Jews had to go through, Peter reminds them that this approval process is one they haven’t been able to live up to anyway. If they’re worried about circumcision and the Mosaic Law, they’re not only saying that the Gentiles aren’t saved, but that they themselves aren’t either. The whole point of the Gospel is that the yoke was too heavy. The same grace is needed whether someone has been trying to follow the Law or not. All have sinned, and all have been saved by grace alone. --Al Postma; Executive Director for the CRCNA in Canada, based in Burlington, Ontario.
JD Greear
God never spelled out, This is how you know I am speaking to you. How did Paul know in Acts 16:6 that God was telling him not to preach in Asia? What does it mean in Acts 15:28 that “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”? Nehemiah concluded that God had given him the job of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, but we never encounter a direct command.
We see the Holy Spirit’s presence in many ways: through Scripture, our spiritual gifts, the work of the church, and our life circumstances. We hold these all in tension, and we hold them loosely—except for the Word of God. Much harm has been caused in the church by people who have said, “God has told me.”
--JD Greear; The Most Important Thing About the Holy Spirit; Christianity Today Dec 2014
We see the Holy Spirit’s presence in many ways: through Scripture, our spiritual gifts, the work of the church, and our life circumstances. We hold these all in tension, and we hold them loosely—except for the Word of God. Much harm has been caused in the church by people who have said, “God has told me.”
--JD Greear; The Most Important Thing About the Holy Spirit; Christianity Today Dec 2014
==acts 15:12-38========
Acts 15:12-38:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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Acts 15:39-41:
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. |
 Ayo Akerele Files
“Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed.” (Acts 15: 39-40a).
At the root of the growing spiritual weakness of the younger generation of Christians is the loss of the virtue of patience. They do not want to suffer for anything, yet suffering is a crucial furnace for killing the flesh. Suffering here does not always refer to the lack of food or water or the basic needs of life. It also speaks to the subduing of the desires of the flesh to the power of the Spirit. One of such desires is the quick success syndrome, manifesting in the desire for quick financial success, quick church growth, quick exposure, quick this and quick that. An unprepared generation will never make the most of God’s grace, much less preserve it for the next generation. --Ayo Akerele; Rising on the platform of faithfulness, July 2023 |