Acts Bible Study: Day 24
Today’s passage: Acts 15:1–35
Focus verse: Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5)
Until now, the church has enjoyed much unity. They’ve gotten along, just as Jesus prayed they would. And they quickly resolved the one small, potentially divisive issue that arose about food distribution.
Now they face a more challenging issue: theological disagreement. Will they overcome it, or will it cause division?
Some people from Judea show up at Antioch. Luke doesn’t tell us who these people are, and it’s just as well that we don’t know.
They insist that the path to Jesus must be through Judaism. They specifically require the circumcision of converts, as commanded in the Law of Moses.
This isn’t the first time the circumcision issue has come up. In Acts 11:1–18 (see Day 18: Dealing with Disagreement), this issue arose, and the church dealt with it quickly.
The result was a consensus that Gentiles can be part of the church and don’t have to undergo the Jewish rite of circumcision.
However, it seems that not everyone is aware of this decision, or at least they don’t care about it. Some of the Pharisees who follow Jesus insist that Gentiles who want to join them must undergo circumcision and keep the Law of Moses.
The church leaders in Jerusalem get together to consider this issue—again.
Peter reminds them of his experience at Cornelius’s house, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles there.
As non-Jews, they weren’t circumcised, and no one required them to undergo this ritual. Nor did they have to follow Jewish law. The simple requirement was that they believe in Jesus and follow him.
Then Barnabas and Paul share their experience working with Gentiles and all the supernatural things God did to bring these people into his church.
Next James, likely the brother of Jesus, speaks. He quotes the prophecy of Amos who predicted that even Gentiles would turn to God.
James then summarizes his perspective that the church shouldn’t add any unnecessary roadblocks for the Gentiles who want to follow Jesus.
The elders, along with the whole church, agree with James’s recommendation. They draft a letter outlining their conclusion.
Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas, deliver the letter to the church in Antioch. This good news encourages the people.
Judas and Silas stick around a while to help the church grow in their faith. Then they return to Jerusalem, leaving Paul and Barnabas to continue the work in Antioch.
Questions:
- When theological disagreements arise, do we allow them to divide us or do we seek consensus to stay united?
- How do we know when to speak out and when to remain quiet?
[Discover more about Amos’s prophecy in Amos 9:11–12.]
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