The Book of Acts      Chapter 15

          The Council at Jerusalem Acts 15:1-41

 

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. 

 

 

            A. Judaizers    (Vs 1)

 

            Paul and Barnabas have returned to Antioch from the 1st missionary journey and have given a good report to the church and have shared how the door of faith has been opened to the Gentiles.

            Shortly, men come from Judea and began to say and teach that you can’t be saved by faith in Jesus Christ, but you must be circumcised and live in accordance to the law of Moses, in order to be saved.  In other words, the only way a Gentile can be saved is by the keeping of  the law (by circumcision, keeping all customs and all the rituals of the law). Now we know that Jesus came to fulfil the law (Mt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the  law , or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to  fulfil). Jesus lived a perfect sinless life and never offended in the law and He is my salvation, in Him I have forgiveness of breaking the law (sin) and in Him I have perfection and He is my way to heaven.

            The law only shows us where we have failed and sinned but the law cannot cleanse us from our sins. Paul says of the law in Rom 3:19,20  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.   And James says in James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole  law , and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  Then Paul taught us in Gal 3: 22-27  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  23  But before faith came, we were kept under the  law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  24  Wherefore the  law  was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  

            Friend, there are men who preach “grace, grace, grace” and “faith, faith, faith”, but if you continue to listen they place folks under law and keeping of ordinances for salvation. The scripture plainly teaches us that “for by grace and ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8,9) Therefore we must conclude that genuine salvation is by grace only and not by the keeping of the law. For Romans 14:23 teaches, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”  Now I am not saying that the saved man will want to live as a lawbreaker but He will want to live by faith and by the grace of Jesus Christ.

            Now please remember Paul and Barnabas have been preaching the gospel and grace to the believers and here come men who stand and teach completely otherwise. 

 

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

            B. Jerusalem

 

            Upon hearing the teaching of the Judaizers, Paul and Barnabas confront and dispute with the men over the false doctrine the Judaizers are bringing to the church at Antioch. Certainly Paul was a man that was “set for the defence of the gospel” (Phil 1:17). The dispute was great and unsolved so it was reckoned that Paul, Barnabas and these men should go to the church at Jerusalem about this question of salvation by the law or by grace.

            As they travel, they come to the areas of Phenice and Samaria and declare to the peoples of this region that the Gentiles can be saved and great joy was manifest. Then they arrive at the church in Jerusalem where they are tenderly greeted by the apostles and elders. Paul and Barnabas begin to tell the church at Jerusalem all that God has done in their lives on their missionary journey.

 

 

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.

 

 

            C. Judgment

 

            Just as soon as Paul and Barnabas tell the elders how the Gentiles are receiving the gospel of grace, are being saved and the Holy Ghost is blessing, the Pharisees rise up and proclaim that these “so called” believers must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. It is almost as if they are saying, “look, the law must be kept, it has always been this way!”

 

 

 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? 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.  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. 

 

 

            D. Justification

 

            Now remember Paul and Barnabas have come before the apostles and elders who have gathered to consider the question of right doctrine, “are people saved by grace through faith without the law? Is the work of Jesus sufficient to save or do we add works or the law?” As this meeting begins, we do notice there is much controversy and disputing even at Jerusalem. 

 

            1. Peter Presents

 

            Peter is an apostle of Jesus Christ. He stands and states that it has already been demonstrated to him and to all, that the Gentiles have heard the gospel and believed and the Holy Spirit fell on them without the Gentiles being circumcised or keeping the law. Peter says that the law is a yoke of bondage around the neck that neither the Jewish forefathers or even this council could keep. Peter (in vs 11) voices that, “we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” The Jews and the Gentiles are all to be saved the very same way.

 

            2. Paul and Barnabas Present

 

            When Peter is finished, Barnabas and Paul declare how the hand of God has been upon the message that Jesus saves by grace through faith and that the Gentiles are believing and miracles and wonders are being done amongst them. Therefore the Holy Spirit is making it evident that salvation is by grace through faith.

 

            3. James Presents

 

            When Barnabas and Paul are finished, James, a church leader at Jerusalem, maybe even the apostle James “the less” the son of Alphaeus, reminds the council that it is God who has chosen to save the Gentiles who will believe and this was prophesied in the Old Testament. Amos 9:11,12 prophesied that the Gentiles will be saved and the “tabernacle of David is fallen” meaning that the Jews have rejected Jesus as their Messiah and God has turned to the Gentiles to gather a people unto His name.  

            James recommends writing a letter to the Gentiles stating that salvation or justification is by faith and not by the law. However, in this letter, let it be taught that the Gentiles should abstain from idols and meats that are offered to them. Let it also be written that the Gentiles should abstain from fornication, as many of the Gentiles accepted sexual immorality and the written letter will state that fornication is SIN (I Cor 6:13-18)

 

 

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.

 

 

            E. Joy

 

            With the bold words of Peter, the testimonies of Barnabas and Paul, the recommendation of James and the whole council, the church is well pleased. It is then decided that men, who have hazarded their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ, will accompany a letter that is written under the leadership of the Holy Ghost, to state that salvation is not by the keeping of the law and those who teach such are subverting your soul. This letter says that it is necessary for the Gentiles to abstain meats offered to idols and to abstain from fornication.

            Judas Barsabas and Silas are chosen to travel back to the church at Antioch along with Barnabas and Paul, with copies of the letter from the elders in Jerusalem. Upon their arrival the letter is read and the Gentiles are glad. Judas and Silas share encouraging words with the people and Judas went back to Jerusalem while Silas stayed with Barnabas and Paul at Antioch.

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

            F. Journeys

 

            After a little while Paul desires to go back to the regions of his first missionary journey, where the word of God was preached and see how the people were doing.  He shares his burden with Barnabas and Barnabas wants to go as well.

            The two begin to make travel plans, when Barnabas decides that it would be good to take John Mark, his nephew, with them on this next journey. But Paul, remembering how John Mark quit right in the middle of an important work (Acts 13:13) on a previous journey, thought it was not a good idea to take him with them and Paul thought John Mark to be undependable. Paul certainly believed that a man must be found faithful as he recorded in I Cor 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

            The contention between Barnabas and Paul was so sharp that they had to split up. Barnabas took his nephew John Mark (Col 4:10) and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas to go with him on this journey to preach the word and they went through Syria and Cilicia.