"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
  1. CONFLICT OVER CIRCUMSION (1-3)
    1. 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
    2. 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
  2. CONFERENCE AT JERUSALEM (4-29)
    1. 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
    2. THE MEETING WITH THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS (6-21)
      1. After much dispute, Peter speaks
        1. 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
        2. 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
        1. The multitude remain silent and listen
        2. As they recount the many miracles and wonders God did among the Gentiles
      3. James then speaks
        1. Providing OT prophecy (cf. Am 9:11-12) to support what Peter had done
        2. Offering his judgment that Gentiles who turn to God not be troubled
        3. 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
    3. THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER (22-29)
      1. The apostles and the elders, with the whole church, agree to send:
        1. Judas and Silas to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas
        2. A letter to Gentile Christians in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia
      2. The letter from the apostles and the elders states:
        1. That the troublemakers had not been sent by them
        2. That Barnabas and Paul are beloved
        3. That Judas and Silas will offer confirmation by word of mouth
        4. 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
        5. The Gentile brethren will do well if they keep themselves from these things
  3. CONSOLATION IN ANTIOCH (30-35)
    1. 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
    2. 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
  4. CONTENTION BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS (36-41)
    1. 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
    2. 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
Show / Hide Answers
  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