When learning about the church in the book of Acts, you have to realize that no one knew everything! The Jews had the Old Testament law in their remembrance, the Gentiles had their pagan rituals in their remembrance, and the newly saved Christians were trying to learn what it was that the Lord God Almighty expected from them.
Acts 15:1-2- 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. 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.
When certain Jews came to where Paul and Barnabas were, they argued that the newly saved Gentiles had to follow the practices of the Jewish religion. Paul and Barnabas argued that it was impossible to for even Jews to follow, so why burden the Gentiles with an impossible task?
Romans 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. 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.
Paul argued that the law was given so that man not only knew what God expected, but that mankind would also realize that they needed a substitute because they couldn't fulfill the law!
Jesus fulfilled the law and died as our substitute. When we put our trust and faith in Him, and ask Him to save us from our sins, then we no longer have to keep all of the laws given to the Jews by Moses.
Paul and Barnabas decided to go to Jerusalem and ask the Apostles and others in the Christian leadership there if they had an answer to this.
Acts 15:3-4- 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. 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.
It took a good amount of travel to get from where Paul and Barnabas were to Jerusalem, and they stopped at various cities and visited the Christians there before coming to Jerusalem.
But, at Jerusalem they found the source of the problem.
Acts 15:5-6- 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. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
There were some Pharisees that believed on Jesus, but they found it hard to leave their religious, self-righteous ways. They were binding the burdens of the law of Moses on all the new converts.
It was time for the Apostles and the Christians at Jerusalem to get together and pray and search the Scriptures for the answer!
Acts 15:7-11- 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. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 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? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Peter stood up and brought to remembrance the time that he visited Cornelius' family. These Gentiles didn't keep the laws of Moses, and yet God saved them and gave them the Holy Ghost in spite of this!
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.
Next, Paul and Barnabas told of all the moving of the Holy Spirit and the conversion of the Gentiles through their missionary expedition.
Acts 15:13, 18-21- And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Lastly, James stood up and said that the Gentiles should not worship idols, not act like they were married when they weren't, and not eat blood or meat from strangled animals. The 10 commandments were being preached in the cities already, and if the Gentile Christians obeyed those 10 commandments along with these few other rules, that would be all that God would require of them!
So many things were learned here that we need to go through them one at a time.
First, the requirements for Christians to live a Christ-like life were set:
Acts 21:25- As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Ephesians 5:5-6- For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
If a Christian didn't live the way they should, it would bring the wrath and punishment of God down on their lives.
Revelation 2:14, 20- But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Next, the way a Church service should be ordered was established:
I Corinthians 14:26, 29, 33-34, 40-How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. Let all things be done decently and in order.
The church service should have only three men talking turns to preach. There shouldn't be chaos where more than one person is hollering out things at the same time! And, women aren't to preach.
Women are to teach women and children.
I Timothy 2:12- But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Titus 2:3-5- The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
A woman preacher blasphemes God's Word!
And, lastly, I believe this is where Paul got the answer to what constituted the gospel:
Romans 2:16- In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
I Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 - Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
This is the gospel- the death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures.
Now, that things were settled, it was time to let all the Christians know!
Acts 15:22-29- 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: 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: 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: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 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.
So, the Apostles wrote letters and delivered them to certain men who would carry them to the different churches.
Acts 15:30-33- So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
These faithful men traveled to each place reading, preaching, and encouraging those who had been converted and were awaiting the answers they sought.
Acts 15:34-36- Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 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.
While it appeared that the church's headquarters were in Jerusalem, the center for the missionary ministry was in Antioch.
Paul and Barnabas, along with Silas, stayed in Antioch preaching and teaching for a while. Then they decided it would be good to go on another missionary expedition to see how the Christians in those cities were doing.
But, there was a problem.
Barnabas was an encourager and teacher who wanted to take the time to help other Christians mature in their spiritual walk no matter how many times they stumbled.
Paul hadn't learned this grace, yet. He looked at a Christian who had given up as a liability and didn't want to accept the responsibility or the hindrance that they would bring.
Acts 15:37-41- And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 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; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
The missionary duo had such strong feelings about their side of the argument that it seemed they couldn't work together any longer.
Do you think this made God throw up His hands in despair? Not at all!
God can work through our problems, our short-comings, and even our stubbornness. He got two missionary expeditions out of this.
Barnabas took John Mark and went one way, and Paul took Silas and went another. More ground would be covered. More Christians exhorted. More lost souls saved. And, John Mark would grow under Barnabas' guidance to become the writer of the gospel of Mark, and a trusted helper to Paul in the future!
At the end of Paul's days, he writes a letter to one of his converts, Timothy. He's letting Timothy know some things that he's learned, and that Timothy should pass on to other Christians.
II Timothy 4:9-11- Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Paul recommends that Timothy get together with Mark to further their ministries in the Lord.
This teaches me that just because you stumble, fall, or even quit, it doesn't mean that you can't get back up and become the blessing that God has in mind for your life!
