Acts 15 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland

<< Previous | Index | Next >>
                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                            Chapter Fifteen

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To see how the early church dealt with the issue of circumcision and
   the Law of Moses

2) To note that Paul, Peter, and James were in complete accord, and that
   Judaizing teachers acted without any apostolic authority

3) To notice the rift between Paul and Barnabas, how it did not keep
   them from serving the Lord

SUMMARY

This chapter records a pivotal event in the early church, confirming
that what Jesus accomplished on the cross was the creation of one new
body, in which both Jews and Gentiles were to have the same access to
God through faith in Jesus Christ and not the Law of Moses (cf. Ep
2:11-18).

Men from Judea came to Antioch teaching the necessity of circumcision
and keeping the Law.  Paul and Barnabas disputed this, and the decision
was made to send them to Jerusalem to talk with the apostles and elders.
Along the way, Paul and Barnabas described the conversion of the
Gentiles which caused great joy (1-3).

At Jerusalem Paul and Barnabas first reported to the whole church.  When
Pharisees who were believers said that circumcision and keeping the Law
of Moses were necessary, the apostles and elders met to discuss the
issue further.  After much dispute, Peter spoke of how God chose him to
be the first to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, how God acknowledged
them by giving them the Holy Spirit, and how God made no distinction,
purifying their hearts through faith.  Peter thus questioned why they
should put a yoke on the Gentiles that even they themselves were unable
to bear.  Rather, by the grace of the Lord both Jews and Gentiles could
be saved in the same manner.  Barnabas and Paul again reported the
miracles and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles
(4-12).

Finally James, the Lord's brother, offered Amos' prophecy in support of
what Peter said.  He then recommended they not trouble the Gentiles, but
that a letter be written asking them to abstain from things offered to
idols, blood, things strangled, and sexual immorality.  The apostles and
elders, with the whole church, agreed to send the letter, and to have
Judas and Silas accompany Paul and Barnabas to confirm its authenticity.
The letter, its counsel approved by the Holy Spirit, was delivered and
joyously received by the brethren in Antioch.  Judas and Silas offered
their exhortation and strengthened the brethren before Judas returned to
Jerusalem (13-34).

After some time teaching and preaching in Antioch, Paul wanted to visit
the brethren in the cities they had traveled to on his first missionary
journey.  Barnabas was willing, but determined to take John Mark.  Paul
insisted they should not take John because he left them on the first
trip.  Unable to reconcile, Barnabas took John and sailed to Cyprus,
while Paul took Silas, and with commendation from the brethren in
Antioch went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches
(35-41).

OUTLINE

I. CONFLICT OVER CIRCUMSION (1-3)

   A. TROUBLEMAKERS FROM JUDEA (1-2a)
      1. Individuals from Judea teach the brethren in Antioch they must
         be circumcised
      2. Paul and Barnabas dissent and dispute with them

   B. CONTINGENT SENT TO JERUSALEM (2b-3)
      1. Paul, Barnabas, and others sent to Jerusalem to meet with the
         apostles and elders
      2. On their way, they tell of the conversion of Gentiles, causing
         great joy

II. CONFERENCE AT JERUSALEM (4-29)

   A. THE MEETING WITH THE WHOLE CHURCH (4-5)
      1. Paul and Barnabas report what God had done with them
      2. Pharisees who believed demand circumcision and keeping the Law
         of Moses

   B. THE MEETING WITH THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS (6-21)
      1. After much dispute, Peter speaks
         a. He reminds them how God:
            1) Chose him to preach the gospel to Gentiles
            2) Acknowledged Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit
            3) Made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, purifying
               their hearts by faith
         b. He offers his conclusion:
            1) Why test God by demanding that Gentiles do what Jews
               could not?
            2) Through the grace of the Lord Jesus both will be saved in
               the same way
      2. Paul and Barnabas then speak
         a. The multitude remain silent and listen
         b. As they recount the many miracles and wonders God did among
            the Gentiles
      3. James then speaks
         a. Providing OT prophecy (cf. Am 9:11-12) to support what
            Peter had done
         b. Offering his judgment that Gentiles who turn to God not be
            troubled
         c. Suggesting that a letter be written
            1) Telling them to abstain from things polluted by idols,
               sexual immorality, what has been strangled, and blood
            2) Seeing that Moses has been read every Sabbath in the
               synagogues for generations

   C. THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER (22-29)
      1. The apostles and the elders, with the whole church, agree to
         send:
         a. Judas and Silas to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas
         b. A letter to Gentile Christians in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia
      2. The letter from the apostles and the elders states:
         a. That the troublemakers had not been sent by them
         b. That Barnabas and Paul are beloved
         c. That Judas and Silas will offer confirmation by word of
            mouth
         d. That they and the Holy Spirit place no greater burden on
            them than to abstain from:
            1) What has been sacrificed to idols
            2) Blood
            3) What has been strangled
            4) Sexual immorality
         e. The Gentile brethren will do well if they keep themselves
            from these things

III. CONSOLATION IN ANTIOCH (30-35)

   A. THE LETTER IS DELIVERED (30-31)
      1. Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch, the multitude gather
         together
      2. The letter is read, the people rejoice over its encouragement

   B. THE CHURCH IS STRENGTHENED (32-35)
      1. As prophets, Judas and Silas exhort and strengthen the brethren
         with many words
      2. After a while, Judas is sent back with greetings from the
         brethren to the apostles
      3. It seems good for Silas to remain in Antioch
      4. Paul and Barnabas remain also, teaching and preaching with many
         others

IV. CONTENTION BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS (36-41)

   A. THE ARGUMENT (36-39a)
      1. After teaching and preaching in Antioch for some days, Paul
         wants to visit the brethren where they preached during the
         first missionary journey
      2. Barnabas is determined to take with them John Mark
      3. Paul is insistent that John should not go since he left them in
         Pamphylia
      4. The contention became so sharp they parted from one another

   B. THE RESULT (39b-41)
      1. Barnabas takes Mark and sails to Cyprus
      2. Paul chooses Silas, commended by the brethren to the grace of
         God, and passes through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the
         churches

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Conflict over circumcision (1-3)
   - Conference in Jerusalem (4-29)
   - Consolation in Antioch (30-35)
   - Contention between Paul and Barnabas (36-41)

2) What were some people from Jerusalem teaching the brethren in
   Antioch? (1)
   - That circumcision as proscribed by Moses was necessary to be saved

3) Who disagreed with them?  What actions were taken? (2)
   - Paul and Barnabas
   - To send Paul and Barnabas along with others to the apostles and
     elders in Jerusalem

4) On the way to Jerusalem, what did Paul and Barnabas do? (3)
   - Described the conversion of the Gentiles to the brethren in
     Phoenicia and Samaria

5) When they arrived at Jerusalem, with whom did they first meet? What
   did they tell them? (4)
   - The church, along with the apostles and elders
   - All the things that God had done with them

6) Who then stood up, and what did they say? (5)
   - Some of the Pharisees who believed in Jesus
   - That it was necessary for Gentiles to be circumcised and keep the
     Law of Moses

7) Who then came together to discuss the matter? (6)
   - The apostles and elders

8) Who spoke first?  What did he say? (7-11)
   - Peter
   - God chose him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles
   - God acknowledged the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit
   - God made no distinction, purifying their hearts by faith
   - Why test God by putting on Gentiles a yoke even Jews could not
     bear?
   - Through the grace of the Lord, Jews and Gentiles will be saved the
     same way

9) Who spoke second?  What did they say? (12)
   - Barnabas and Paul
   - God worked many miracles through them among the Gentiles

10) Who spoke last?  What did he say? (13-21)
   - James (the Lord's brother)
   - The prophet Amos agreed with what Peter said
   - They should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God
   - That a letter be written, asking them to abstain from polluted by
     idols, sexual immorality, things strangled, and blood
   - Since for generations Moses had been read in many synagogues every
     Sabbath

11) What was the reaction to James' suggestions? (22-23)
   - It pleased the apostles and elders, along with the whole church
   - They determined to send Judas and Silas along with Paul and
     Barnabas, to Antioch
   - To write a letter to Gentile Christians in Antioch, Syria, and
     Cilicia

12) What are key points in that letter? (24-29)
   - Those who had troubled them regarding circumcision and the Law did
     so without any authority
   - The apostles and elders agreed to send Judas and Silas along with
     beloved Barnabas and Paul to confirm the report of what happened in
     Jerusalem
   - The Holy Spirit, along with the apostles and elders, saw fit to lay
     no burdens upon them, save to abstain from things sacrificed to
     idols, blood, things strangled, and sexual immorality

13) How did the brethren in Antioch react to the letter? (30-31)
   - They rejoiced over its encouragement

14) What did Judas and Silas do?  (32-34)
   - As prophets they exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many
     words
   - Judas was later sent back to Jerusalem with greetings to the
     apostles
   - Silas remained in Antioch

15) What did Paul and Barnabas do for a while in Antioch? (35)
   - Teach and preach the word of the Lord

16) After some time, what did Paul recommend to Barnabas? (36)
   - To go back and visit the brethren in the cities where they
     preached, to see how they were doing

17) What was Barnabas determined to do? (37)
   - Take John Mark with them

18) What did Paul insist?  Why? (38)
   - They should not take John Mark
   - He had left them in Pamphylia (cf. Ac 13:13) and not gone on with
     them

19) When the contention became strong between Barnabas and Paul, what
    did they do? (39-41)
   - Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus
   - Paul took Silas, commended by the brethren to the grace of God, and
     went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches
<< Previous | Index | Next >>
Home Page
Have A Bible Question? | Want A Free Bible Study Course? | Looking For A Church Near You?
Want To Talk With Someone By Phone? | Want To Discuss The Bible By Email?
Search The Outlines