http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 DEFENDING THE TRUTH ACTS 15:1-41
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Text: Acts 15:1-41, Defending the Truth 1. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved. 2. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 5. 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 obey the law of Moses. 6. The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: Brothers, you know that sometime ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 11. No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. 12. The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13. When they finished, James spoke up: Brothers, listen to me. 14. Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16. After this I will return and rebuild David s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17. that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things 18. that have been known for ages. 19. It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath. 22. Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23. With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24. We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 26. men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements. 29. You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. 30. The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32. Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. 34. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. 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. 37. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 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. 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; 40. And Paul chose Silas and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 Introduction: I. Acts 15:1-35 relates events of what has come to be known as The Jerusalem Council/Conference. A. It has been alleged that the council was convened to: 1. assess the correctness of Paul s preaching. 2. determine the relationship of the Christian gospel and the law of Moses. B. However, it may well have been that it was to correct the position of the apostles at Jerusalem including James the Lord s brother regarding the matter of Gentile requirements related to their becoming Christians. C. Were the Gentile converts obligated to obey the Law of Moses as well as hold faith in the risen Savior? II. Galatians 2:1-16 gives Paul s position on this matter. A. Galatians 2:1-16, Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy out the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. As for those who seemed to be important whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 appearance those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. (NIV) B. What was at issue was the unity of the Christian church. C. Both Galatians 2 and Acts 15 took place at the same time; that is, 14 years after Paul s conversion (A.D. 37) in or about A.D. 50. D. Paul did not submit the obligations of Gentile Christians to arbitration. Paul was in Jerusalem to convince the Jewish
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 Christian leadership that he was preaching the truth and to gain the support of the Jewish Christian leadership as well as to assure Christian unity on these vital questions. Commentary: Acts 15:1, Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved. (NIV) I. Certain men went down from Jerusalem to Antioch of Syria and taught the disciples there that they could not be saved (go to heaven) unless the males were physically circumcised in keeping with the Law of Moses. A. These men had not been authorized by James to teach circumcision as a requirement of salvation. 1. Acts 15:24, We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. (NIV) B. Galatians 2:12, Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. (NIV) C. Clearly the Holy Spirit did not direct James the Lord s brother to take this position in regard to circumcision and salvation. II. Evidently the leadership of the Jerusalem church had tolerated this view of the need for circumcision until this crisis arose. Acts 15:2, This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. (NIV) I. Paul and Barnabas had a major debate with these Jewish Christians from Jerusalem regarding circumcision and its relationship to the Christian faith. II. The church in Antioch appointed Paul, Barnabas and certain other Antioch brethren to go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to resolve this matter. Titus was one of these brethren. A. Galatians 2:1, Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. (NIV) III. This was a crucial question! Would Christianity be a sect of the Jews or an independent world religion? A. Paul went on this mission by revelation; that is, the Holy Spirit told Paul to go to Jerusalem about this matter and what position to take on this question. Galatians 2:2, And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. B. Evidently Peter was in Antioch when the emissaries from James arrived. C. Evidently there was a movement underway designed to place the Jerusalem church over all other churches. 2. Apostles by inspiration yes! 3. Elders of Jerusalem no! D. This would have been a dangerous thing, a definite error!
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 Acts 15:3, The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. (NIV) I. The delegation passed through Phoenicia and Samaria on its way to Jerusalem. A. They told everyone willing to listen of the conversion of Gentiles during Paul s first missionary journey and otherwise in Antioch of Syria. B. This news caused great joy among Christians in Phoenicia and Samaria. C. Being brought on their way by the church evidently means the Antioch church paid the expenses of this trip or at least that they gave their full encouragement and prayers to their mission. Acts 15:4, 5, When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 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 obey the law of Moses. (NIV) I. When Paul, Barnabas and the other brethren arrived in Jerusalem they were received by the Jerusalem church, the apostles and its elders. A. Paul and company related all the success they had achieved among the Gentiles through God s guidance and providence. B. The Pharisees who had been converted to Christ strongly contended that Gentiles would have to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 10 C. The Pharisees were the right wing legalists in the first century church. II. The Pharisaical believers evidently expected a quick victory for their views in Antioch, but they didn t count on Paul! Acts 15:6, The apostles and elders met to consider this question. (NIV) I. The apostles and elders were gathered to consider this question. Acts 15:7, After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: Brothers, you know that sometime ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. (NIV) I. After much discussion Peter stood and declared: A. God sent me to preach to the Gentiles (house of Cornelius) that they could believe and be saved. Acts 10. B. No requirement was made of Cornelius to be circumcised nor keep the law of Moses. Acts 15:8, 9, God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. (NIV) I. God, who knows the hearts of all men, Peter said, gave Cornelius the same gift of the Holy Spirit the Jewish apostles had received on Pentecost. II. God made no difference between Jews and Gentiles.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 11 A. Hearts were cleansed by faith whether it was Jews or Gentiles who were being considered. III. Hearts were cleansed by faith in Christ rather than by the law of Moses. IV. God has only one gospel for all mankind, not one plan for the Jews and another for the Gentiles. A. Romans 3:21-24, But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV) Acts 15:10, 11, Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. (NIV) I. Peter asked: A. Why would you Pharisee Christians put on Gentile converts a burden which no one was able to bear, either the Jewish fathers or the Jews of that day. B. Jews and Gentiles were both to be saved on the same conditions through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ! II. To insist on circumcision and observance of the law of Moses is to make trial of God.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 12 Acts 15:12, The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. (NIV) I. The assembly remained silent while Barnabas and Paul (Luke reverted here to the old order of listing these names.) told of all God had done through them among the Gentiles. Acts 15:13-18, When they finished, James spoke up: Brothers, listen to me. Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: After this I will return and rebuild David s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things that have been known for ages. (NIV) I. After Peter (Simon) had finished speaking and when all assembled had nothing more to say, James, the Lord s brother, summarized. A. James the Lord s brother was a very prominent and influential person in the Jerusalem church. B. Evidently the decision had been made in a private meeting before the public meeting. II. Gentile converts were a part of the Spiritual Israel of God. A. Amos 9:11, In that day I will restore David s fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins and build it as it used to be... (NIV) B. Romans 9:8, In other words, it is not the natural children who are God s children, but it is the children of the promise, who are regarded as Abraham s offspring. (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 13 C. Romans 11:1-5, I ask then: did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah how he appealed to God against Israel: Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me? And what was God s answer to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. (NIV) D. Galatians 3:7, 29, Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV) E. Romans 2:28, 29, A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man s praise is not from men, but from God. (NIV) Acts 15:19, 20, It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. (NIV) I. James concluded that his judgment (not the decision of the council) was that: A. no other obligations such as circumcision and observance of the Law of Moses should be bound on Gentile converts.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 14 B. Gentiles should separate themselves from heathenism; that is, that they should abstain from pollutions of idols, from what is strangled, and from blood. C. Gentiles should abstain from immorality; that is, fornication. II. The Jerusalem assembly had no authority to make any decision not authorized by the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit! III. The unity of the church, adherence to the truth of the gospel and open doors for continued growth of the church were preserved! Acts 15:21, For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath. (NIV) I. Moses will continue to be preached in the synagogues everywhere. II. Many Jewish Christians were continuing to observe the Sabbath and the law of Moses. Were they ordered to stop these observances? No. Acts 15:22, Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. (NIV) I. The apostles, elders and the entire Jerusalem church decided to choose men out of their group who would return to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to verify, certify the judgment of the Jerusalem assembly. II. These chief men among the Jerusalem brethren were: A. Judas Barsabbas (son of the Sabbath).
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 15 a. Acts 1:23-26, And they appointed two, Joseph called Barabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (NIV) B. Silas who became a companion of Paul on subsequent missionary journeys. 1. Acts 15:40, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. (NIV) 2. 2 Corinthians 1:19, For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not Yes and No, but in him it has always been Yes. (NIV) 3. 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) 4. 2 Thessalonians 1:1, Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: (NIV) III. The consensus was written in a letter and witnessed by both sides in the discussion.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 16 Acts 15:23, With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. (NIV) I. This letter from the Jerusalem church, now a part of the book of Acts, is the first mentioned Christian written document predating any of the New Testament books. II. The letter was written by the apostles and elders, Jewish Christian brethren at Jerusalem, to the Gentile Christians, in Antioch and the surrounding territory of Syria and Cilicia. III. The letter appears to be formal. Acts 15:24-26, We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV) I. The letter stated that the writers knew certain people left them, went to Antioch and attempted to subvert the souls of Gentile Christians. A. The apostles and elders at Jerusalem had not authorized these men to preach restrictions to Gentile converts. B. To settle this matter the apostles and elders at Jerusalem had selected two men to return with their letter and Barnabas and Paul who had hazarded their lives for their faith in Christ to set the record straight. C. Warm Christian affection is clearly evident in this letter. Acts 15:27-29, Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 17 Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements. You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. (NIV) I. What will be said in the letter and witnessed by Judas, Silas, Barnabas and Paul was good in the view of both the Holy Spirit and the Jerusalem apostles and elders. II. Only necessary things would be required of Gentile Christians. A. What are the necessary things essential to our Christian faith? B. What are some unnecessary things commonly practiced by believers? III. Necessary things include: A. abstinence from things sacrificed to idols. B. abstinence from blood. C. abstinence from things strangled. D. abstinence from fornication. E. remembrance of the poor. Note: These stipulations have to do with idolatry and immorality, common Gentile activities. IV. If you Gentile Christians observe these stipulations, it will be well with you. Fare well!
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 18 Acts 15:30, 31, The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. (NIV) I. Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas, prophets in their own right, having been dismissed from the Jerusalem meeting, made their way to Antioch where they confirmed, strengthened the Gentile Christians. II. The letter from Jerusalem was read to the assembled Antioch church causing rejoicing and consolation, comfort. Acts 15:32, Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. (NIV) I. Judas and Silas, being prophets, also confirmed the right way of the Lord as written in the Jerusalem letter. Acts 15:33-35, After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. (NIV) I. After some time in Antioch the Jerusalem delegation was dismissed to return to Jerusalem. II. Silas remained in Antioch. III. Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. IV. Many other teachers and preachers joined with Paul and Barnabas in the ministry of the word.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 19 V. Heresies (2 Peter 2:1, But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them bringing swift destruction on themselves.) (NIV) in the early church included but were not limited to: A. Judaizers. B. Gnostics. C. Nicolaitans. 1. Revelation 2:6, 14, 15, But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. (NIV) VI. We also are to discern between the essential and the non-essential. A. Observing the law of Moses was not essential. B. Faith in Christ and obedience of his commands are essential. C. Abstaining from paganism is essential. VII. In our situation what are some essentials and some non-essentials? VIII. What crises, major directional questions, does the 21 st church face currently? century
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 20 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. (NIV) I. Paul was always mindful of those he had led to Christ. A. Here Paul approached Barnabas with the plan to revisit the places in which they had preached the gospel on their previous missionary journey. B. The stated purpose of this proposed trip was to see how the brethren (This includes sisters.) were faring in the Christian faith. 1. These brethren needed edification as do all young Christians. 2. These brethren faced serious opposition from unbelievers. B. Barnabas was ready to go, but he insisted on one condition. Acts 15:37, And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. (NIV) I. Barnabas insisted on again taking his nephew, John Mark, with them. A. John Mark had left the team at Perga in Pamphylia which Paul found unacceptable. 1. Acts 13:13, Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. (NIV) 2. The Bible does not specify why John Mark went home. B. However, John Mark and Paul were later reconciled.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 21 1. Paul in later years found John Mark to be most helpful to him. 2. Barnabas, a good and righteous man, may have made all the difference in John Mark s Christian life by this act of encouragement. 3. Do we give people second chances? Acts 15:38, 39, But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 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; (NIV) I. A sharp contention arose between Paul and Barnabas over whether to take John Mark with them on a second journey. A. How could they have resolved their conflict more amicably? B. How could we have resolved our conflicts more amicably? II. This conflict was resolved by Barnabas going one way and Paul s going another way. They split! A. Barnabas took John Mark and returned to his native Cyprus. B. Did any good come from this divisive situation? Acts 15:40, 41, And Paul chose Silas and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. (NIV) I. Paul chose Silas to accompany him.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 22 A. They went through Syria and Cilicia. B. They confirmed, strengthened the churches established on Paul s first missionary journey. 1. Galatians 1:21-23, Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. (NIV) C. The church in Antioch of Syria commended Paul and Silas to the grace of the Lord, asking that God would bless them on this missionary journey. II. Silas was one of the chief men among the brethren in Jerusalem appointed to take the letter to Antioch regarding the circumcision matter. A. Acts 15:22, Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 23 Questions on Acts 15:1-41 1. What serious issue arose in Antioch of Syria? 2. How was the matter settled? 3. Why were Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem? Were the apostles and elders in Jerusalem over the churches everywhere? 4. How could some in the Jerusalem church continue to live as Pharisees while at the same time be faithful Christians?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 24 5. The debate began. Affirmed: 6. What was involved in the phrase,... obey the law of Moses.? 7. Who considered, sat as judges in this case? Were they the ones to decide any other theological questions that might arise anywhere? 8. After much discussion, Peter spoke to the assembly. What did he say?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 25 9. According to Peter, by what are we saved? By what has no one ever been saved? 10. What did Paul and Barnabas say? 11. What did James say? 12. Who was this James? 13. What decision was made at this Jerusalem conference?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 26 14. If the decision had gone the other way, what would the church be like today? 15. Did Jewish Christians continue to worship in the synagogues on the Sabbath with Jews who did not believe? Give reasons for your answer. What application can you make of this for the present time? 16. Who took the message back to Antioch of Syria? 17. Where has Judas Barsabbas Justus been mentioned in Acts before and on what occasion?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 27 18. What more is known of Silas? 19. Who was given this letter when it reached Antioch of Syria? 20. Later Paul made a proposal to Barnabas. What was the proposal and what was its purpose? 21. A bone of contention arose between Paul and Barnabas. What was the disagreement and how was it resolved? 22. Did any good come from this disagreement? If so, what was it?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.org 28 23. What association did these men later have in Christian evangelism? 24. Only necessary things were required of the Gentile converts. What are the necessary and unnecessary things today s church observes? 25. How does the church today resolve its differences?