Acts, Chapter 15
© Copyright 2007 Darroll Evans, all
rights reserved
This verse is the turning
point in Church history. At the meeting spoken of in this chapter the Apostles
realized that gentiles were not under the law but under grace. They realized
that All Jew and Gentile are saved by grace through faith! They realized that
the Mosaic law is not the true way to salvation!
Acts 15:1 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.
About
that time, some salvation-by-works “teachers” came from
The teaching of works-based
salvation has crept back into the Church and is a scourge to Christianity!
However, due to the fall of man and the egotistical need for freewill,
it is easier to preach works that it is to preach faith-based grace. Men long
for rules and regulations when to only rule Christians have is to trust our
Lord Christ Jesus!
The carnal man understands
works, but a saved man knows that his spiritual safety is only found in God’s
grace. While Paul focused on grace, the 12 focused on works.
Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
None shall stand before God
and boast of his/her works!
Now take a quick glance at
Acts 21:20.
Acts 21:20
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou
seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are
which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
The Twelve were, even at that
date, zealous of the law. They did not so much as
mention grace, because they had no understanding of the power of grace.
Acts 15:2 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.
Many
still attempt to make salvation by works a valid Christian teaching. They have a total disregard for the grace of
God.
At
that time in Acts, there was a great dispute between those who had little or no
regard for God’s grace, and those who sided with Paul and Barnabas.
They
appointed Paul and Barnabas along with a few others who understood the power of
grace to go to
The
law is still preached by those who do not understand or accept grace. Recently, the Pastor of a Charismatic Church
told his congregation that they could not be blessed by God, could “likely” be
delivered (i.e. saved), or be healed unless they first paid their tithes!
Lies
like that are being preached in buildings that appear to be Churches, but are
in effect homes of heresy!
They
pretend that the Bible says, “By His stripes you were healed---UNLESS
you don’t pay the religion tax!” (Read
that tongue in cheek.) Such a teaching is false! Jesus never asked anyone for
money when he healed them! You cannot buy salvation!
Acts 15:3-4
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
Having
departed and going to
Upon arriving in
You
will notice the order of the welcoming.
First in the order is the Church, indicating the laity.
“Laymen”
is not a biblical term, but it has been accepted to mean “serving” the
leadership in each Church. The leaders
in any Church are supposed to be the greatest servants with that particular
assembly. However, in far too many
Churches, the laity works for the Pastor, and not with
the Pastor. That is especially true in
many so-called independent Churches.
Next, we have Apostles
mentioned. That is due to the respect
that should be shown them.
“Elders” (Gr. Presbuteroon-Presbuterwn) is a separate order.
Elders may have been the senior laity within each Church. The origin of the title, as used in Christian
circles, is not clear.
Acts 15:5-11
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.
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.
Some
of those who had come out of the Pharisee sect of Judaism demanded that the
Gentiles would need to take up full Judaic practices, including circumcision,
prior to admission into Christianity.
They insisted that Gentiles fully keep Moses law. That demand was something that they had been
unable to do.
Men
do not keep rules well at all. If you
question that assessment, attend a traffic court session. All drivers know they must follow the rules,
but many reject the law even if it is for their personal benefit.
The
apostles and elders assembled to consider the matter. After much debate, Peter
spoke up, “You all recognize that from ancient days, God chose among us how that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the gospel, and to
believe. God, knowing what was in their hearts witnessed to them by giving them
the Holy Spirit just as He did for us.
“In
this matter, He (God) made no distinction between both us and the Gentiles. He
purified their hearts by faith.
“Why
do you test God by seeking to put a yoke on the neck of those disciples which
neither we nor our fathers had strength to bear?
(Jews
were notorious Law breakers. Just read
the OT.)
“It
was through the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ that we believed and were saved. In accordance to that same manner
they also believe.”
Acts 15:12 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.
At
that, the multitude was silenced. Then they were heard Barnabas and Paul
describing the wonderful things God did through them among the Gentiles. God has done many miraculous signs and wonders.
Acts 15:13-21
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.
Then,
James acted in response, “Listen to me! Simon Peter described how as at the first God supervised the taking of a people from among the Gentiles for His name.
***The
first Gentile called out for God’s name was Abram who later became Abraham!
“That
is in agreement with the Words of the prophets, as it has been written, ‘After
these things I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, and I will rebuild
the things which have been destroyed so the rest of men may seek the Lord, even
all the Gentiles who have been called by my name.
“All
His works are known to God from eternity, and because of that I judge that we
should not trouble those among the Gentiles who are turning to God.
“It
should be sufficient for us to write to them telling them to turn away from the
pollutions of idols, from
fornication, and that which have been strangled, and from blood.
“In
every city from ancient generations the teachings of Moses has been proclaimed
through the Sabbath readings in every Synagogue.”
It is from that last statement
that we get our understanding that early Christianity was considered a sect of
Judaism.
Abram was the first Gentile
to receive a new name. At the proper
time we too shall be given a new name.
Rev 2:17 He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give
to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a
new name written, which no
man knoweth saving he that receiveth
it.
Acts 15:22-34
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
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.
At
the conclusion, it seemed good
to the Apostles and Elders, along with the rest of the church, to send chosen
men with Paul and Barnabas to
After
doing that Silas stayed on in
Acts 15:35-36
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in
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.
Paul
and Barnabas stayed in Syrian Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the gospel. And
after a while, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return to our brothers in the
cities in which we make known the Word of the Lord. We will see how they are doing.”
Acts 15:37-39
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
Barnabas
purposed taking of John Mark with them.
However, Paul did not like the idea, because John Mark had left them when they
were in Pamphylia on the earlier journey.
There were sharp feelings on both sides, so they separated company. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed for
Acts 15:40-41
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto
the grace of God.
41 And he went through
Paul
chose to take Silas and being commended to the grace of God by the Church
brothers, went through
That began Paul’s second
missionary journey.