ACTS LESSON 34
We will begin this lesson in Acts 15:27 "We have sent therefore
Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth."
We see from this, that the message Peter and James had sent in a
letter to these churches about the requirements for the Gentiles was
not all they had done. They had, also, sent Judas and Silas to tell
them their wishes in person.
Acts 15:28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to
lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;" Acts
15:29 "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."
We see, here, that the apostles were guided in their setting of
doctrine by the Holy Ghost. These few rules of doctrine, if you
carefully examine them, are really a furtherance of what Jesus said
when He was asked what commandments were important. Matthew 22:37-
40, Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
Matthew 22:38 "This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:39
"And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself." Matthew 22:40 "On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets." You see, the first says we are to have no idols.
If we love God with all our heart, we will not have idols. If we love
our neighbor as ourselves, we will not commit sin. You see, the
doctrine of Jesus Christ and the doctrine Peter, James, and all the
other church leaders gave through the influence of the Holy Ghost is
the same.
Acts 15:30 "So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and
when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the
epistle:"
An epistle is a written letter. This message was given to the
entire church (followers of Jesus) so that there would be no question
about the doctrine of the church.
Acts 15:31 "[Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the
consolation."
Consolation means comfort. They were all very pleased to have
this settled, so that they would no longer be questioning whether they
were doing the right thing or not.
Acts 15:32 "And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves,
exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them]."
This just simply means that they preached to these people. Being
prophets is included to show by what authority they preached. The
many words means, to me, that they preached more than once.
Acts 15:33 "And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were
let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles."
This seems like a revival of the believers. It just went on and
on, because they were all being refreshed in the Lord. Finally they
let them go back to their evangelistic work.
Acts 15:34 "Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there
still."
The other church leaders went back to Jerusalem, or to their
mission fields, but Silas decided to stay here and minister in
Antioch.
Acts 15:35 "Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching
and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also."
It seemed like Antioch was a place for the apostles and believers
to go, and preach, and get built up, before going out in the field.
There is strength in groups of believers. It is like getting fueled
up before they go out to minister. One of the problems with
ministers, and especially pastors, is that they are constantly giving
out to others, and never going back and getting refreshed themselves.
This meeting at Antioch, here, seemed to be for the building up of the
ministers.
Acts 15:36 "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."
Paul and Barnabas had started churches all over Asia Minor. They
were in the middle of all kinds of false religions. Paul wanted to go
back to each one of them individually, to make sure that they were
still worshipping the way he and Barnabas had started them out. He
not only wanted to check up on them, but to encourage them in the
Lord, as well. They were probably under heavy persecution from the
idolatrous people around them and from the strict Jewish people, as
well.
Acts 15:37 "And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose
surname was Mark."
This is not John, who wrote the Book of John and was James'
brother, but was, in fact, Mark the writer of the Gospel of Mark.
Mark and Barnabas were related through Mark's mother. Colossians 4:10
tells of this relationship.
Acts 15:38 "But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who
departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the
work."
The Scripture does not say why Paul was so set on Mark not going
with them, but Paul was so set in not taking Mark, that Barnabas and
Paul separate over it. As you will see in the next verse.
Acts 15:39 "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;"
We see here, that blood is a little stronger then friendship in
this case. The argument seemed to be over Mark. Cyprus was the home
of Barnabas and was, also, the place Barnabas and Paul had started an
early church. Barnabas, perhaps, took Mark and went home. Some
writers believe the reason Paul did not want Mark to go was, because
he was still caught up in the law, but there is no Scriptural evidence
of that. Some believe that Paul's domineering spirit caused the
separation, but there is no real evidence of that, either. It seems
to me, that two friends were separated over a third party, and nothing
more is told.
Acts 15:40 "And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended
by the brethren unto the grace of God."
It appears that Silas had been a successful disciple himself, and
the leaders of their group recommended Silas to Paul as someone who
would do a good job as helper to Paul. At any rate, Paul took Silas
as his new partner. It is interesting, to me, that they went out two
at a time, as the Lord has sent them when He was on earth. Perhaps,
this has to do with the Scripture, "If two of you shall agree on earth
as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them
of my Father which is in heaven," Matthew 18:19.
Acts 15:41 "And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the
churches."
We see, here, that Paul went back to the same churches, he and
Barnabas had started and checked on how they were doing. Possibly he
preached and, also, taught that they were not under the Mosaic law,
but under the grace of Jesus Christ. The above statement would have
been a little more accurate to say (they) went, because Silas went
with Paul.
Notes
Acts 34 Questions
1. Who were two that were sent with Paul and Barnabas to tell the
decision of Peter and James?
2. In verse 28, to whom did it seem good to do this?
3. What were the only restrictions these Gentiles were to observe?
4. These rules of doctrine actually parallel what teaching of Jesus?
5. When they dismissed, where did they come to?
6. When did they deliver the epistle?
7. What is an epistle?
8. Verse 31, says they rejoiced for ____________.
9. Which two prophets exhorted (preached) the word?
10. Verse 33, seems like what was going on here?
11. Who remained behind when the others went back to Jerusalem?
12. What did Paul and Barnabas do in Antioch?
13. Where did Paul want him and Barnabas to go?
14. Who did Barnabas want to take with them?
15. Barnabas went where without Paul?
16. What are two thoughts on why Paul and Barnabas parted that are not
really backed up by Scripture?
17. Why did Barnabas choose to go with him?
18. Through whom was Barnabas related to Mark?
19. Who did Paul choose to go with him?
20. Where did Paul and his helper go?
21. Why had Paul chosen Silas?
22. What was, perhaps, one of the messages Paul taught?
Notes
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