ACTS LESSON 33

    In the previous lesson, there had come up a dispute about whether
the Gentile believers should be required to keep the law of Moses and
be circumcised or not.  Peter listened to their arguments, and then
stood up and settled the whole thing by stating, that if God accepted
these Gentiles as they were, who were they to question God's
judgement?  He ended the speech by saying this, Acts 15:11 "But we
believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be
saved, even as they."

    We will continue on in 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."

    We see here, that the voice of authority has spoken and all of the
arguing stopped.  This opened the way for Paul and Barnabas to tell of
their missionary journey to Derbe, Pamphyla, and other places, and how
those who had never before heard the gospel message received Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Saviour.  The most exciting part was that
Gentiles, who had been worshipping the false godess Dianna, had
believed Paul and Barnabas' report of Jesus and had come to the one
true God.  Paul told of the miracle of healing the lame man, but also
told of the persecution, as well.

    Acts 15:13  "And after they had held their peace, James answered,
saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me:"

    This is not John, the apostle's brother, James.  He had already
been killed for the gospel.  This is the half brother of Jesus by
Mary.  James seemed to be highly thought of in the church, even though
he did not accept Jesus as his Saviour and Lord until after Jesus rose
from the grave.  He commands their attention in the above verse.

    Acts 15:14 "Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit
the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name."

    We see here, James calling Peter, Simeon.  In Scripture after
Scripture, we are told that a thing is established by two witnesses:
and this is your second witness here regarding salvation for the
Gentiles, also.

    Acts 15:15 "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is
written,"

    James reminds them, here, that this was even prophesied by the Old
Testament prophets.

    Acts 15:16 "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:"  Acts 15:17 "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."

    James tells them, here, of the promise the Lord had made.  This I
will return, is speaking of Jesus' return.  Residue means those
remaining.  In this instance, here, it is speaking of the non Jew.
The salvation of Jesus Christ is offered to whosoever will.  Not to
just a chosen few, but to all.  The statement "...upon whom my name is
called..." means the Christians, followers of Christ who have taken on
His name.

    Acts 15:18 "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of
the world."

    God's foreknowledge of everything from the beginning of the world
unto the end of the world is spoken of here.  This reception of the
Lord by the Gentiles is no shock to God.  He knew it would happen from
the beginning.

    Acts 15:19 "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them,
which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:"

    We see, here, James saying, my decision is that we not trouble
these Gentiles who have come to God.  God foretold it, they received
the Holy Ghost just as we did, now let us not mess with God's
decision.

    Acts 15:20 "But that we write unto them, that they abstain from
pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things
strangled, and [from] blood."

    James gives a code for church membership behavior here.  Don't
mess around with idols of any kind, if you are a Christian.
Fornication is sin of the body of every kind.  This special warning
against all body sin should be heeded by all Christians.  Under this
sin is homosexuals, or lesbians, or adulterers, etc.  Christians are
not to drink or eat blood.  These are so simple and so few
restrictions, yet many people seem to not be able to keep even these
few.

    Acts 15:21 "For Moses of old time hath in every city them that
preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day."

    James is saying here, if they want to become a Jew and live by
Moses' law, they can find that in the synagogue.  To me, James is
saying here, that there is a separation of Moses' law and God's grace.
You cannot have both.  Choose one or the other.  To live by the law
would make you a Jew.  To live by grace makes you a Christian.

    Acts 15:22 "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:"

    It seemed to be by unanimous decision, that the apostles and
elders decided to accept Peter and James' decision on the matter of
the Gentiles.  We see here, a committee chosen of the elect men in the
group to go and carry this good news of the church 's decision to the
church at Antioch.  Perhaps, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas went to
assure the people of Antioch that this was not just Paul and Barnabas'
decision, but was also Peter and James' decision, as well.  This is
the Antioch where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians,
and there were many Gentile converts here.  Remember, the church is
still being formed here.

    Acts 15:23 "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:"

    These letters were written to these churches as a sort of doctrine
of the church.  These letters were to settle the discussion of keeping
the law of Moses and of circumcision.  Notice this letter is addressed
to the Gentile believers.

    Acts 15:24 "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:"

    We see again, here, that this letter is to straighten out a
misunderstanding.  This letter is saying, that whoever required you to
do these things, was not speaking for the apostles and church leaders.
Don't be troubled by this, because it is not the Christian's doctrine.

    Acts 15:25 "It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one
accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and
Paul,"

    This is showing that this doctrine is not just Paul and Barnabas',
but the whole church's.  These representatives of the main body
support the fact that keeping the Mosaic law and circumcising the men
is not the doctrine of Christianity.

    Acts 15:26 "Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ."

    This is speaking of men like Paul who have gone and preached the
gospel, even in the face of death.  Just as Paul had been stoned, and
left for dead, and then went right back to the same area to preach
again.  They felt it an honor to be crucified with Jesus.











                           Acts 33 Questions

1.  What was the dispute that Paul and Barnabas had with the other
    leaders?
2.  What did Peter explain that he believed in verse 11.
3.  In verse 12, what had God done among the Gentiles?
4.  When did all the arguing stop?
5.  In verse 13, what did James say?
6.  Which James is this?
7.  Who is Simeon?
8.  Who had agreed in the Old Testament that the Gentiles should be
    accepted?
9.  Residue means what?
10. What is the tabernacle called in verse 16?
11. Who does "...upon whom my name is called..." mean?
12. Known unto ____________ are all his works from the beginning of
    the world.
13. In verse 19, James says not to trouble whom?
14. What were they to write to them (three things)?
15. What was read in the synagogue every sabbath?
16. Who did the apostles and elders send with Paul and Barnabas?
17. Where, in verse 23, are three specific places the Gentiles are
    mentioned?
18. What did they try to put on the Gentiles that Peter and the others
    had not commanded?
19. This doctrine of grace had been approved of whom?
20. Verse 26, tells of the devotion of these men that were sent, what
    showed their devotion?

                                 Notes