_And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised … ye cannot be saved._ DISTURBERS OF THE CHURCH I. Certain men came down from Judea. 1. Probably they were not appreciated at home. 2. They brought all their intolerance with them. 3. And the Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_They therefore, being brought on their way._ WORKING ON THE ROAD 1. For a little time the noise of controversy ceases. Paul and Barnabas might have taken a much shorter way to Jerusalem; but Paul, like the Master, always wished to do some work on the way. When Christ was apparently hastening to a... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up._ PETER’S SPEECH Mark-- I. The time when peter spoke. “When there had been much disputing.” That was the critical moment. Speeches acquire force from the time at which they are delivered. Wise men keep back as long as possible. Thus their wisd... [ Continue Reading ]
_God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness._ GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY It is the sovereign’s stamp which settles the question as to the right of a coin to be counted current among loyal subjects of that sovereign. When God puts His stamp of approval on a man, or on a woman, or on a movement, that fa... [ Continue Reading ]
_We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved._ THE CHRISTIAN’S CREED A confession-- I. Of penitence, which rests on a clear consciousness of sin. II. Of humility, which attests the demerits of good works. III. Of faith, which has recognised the riches of God’s l... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then all the multitude kept silence and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul._ APOSTOLIC TESTIMONY 1. When Paul speaks we want to know what Paul says. But some men must be their own reporters. So we turn from the Acts to the opening verses of Galatians. Where Luke contents himself with a summary, P... [ Continue Reading ]
_And after they had held their peace, James answered._ THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL This was a crisis in the history of the Church. The greatest disasters might have befallen it at this critical time. The man who saved the Church was Paul. There was in him a fine spirit of conciliation as to method... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they wrote letters._ THE APOSTOLIC LETTER 1. A model of brotherly love and Divine wisdom. 2. A pattern for the modern Church. 3. A great standing deliverance from all ceremonial and ritualistic observances. Improvement-- (1) Be not narrow-minded. (2) Trust in Christ and not ordinances. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_For it seemed good unto the Holy Ghost and to us._ THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH Here we have-- I. The spirit guiding the church. 1. This was in accordance with the Saviour’s promise. 2. This was demonstrated by the previous history. Pentecost; the mission of Philip to Samaria, and to the Eun... [ Continue Reading ]
_And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren … and see how they do._ CHURCH VISITATION Paul felt that he was not called to spend a peaceful though laborious life at Antioch, but that his true work was “far off among the Gentiles” (Acts 22:21). He knew that hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Barnabas determined to take with them John._ THE CONTENTION BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS The contents of this chapter are famous for two things, that had most contrary events. The one, how a great variance was concluded with a happy concord. The other, how a small variance did proceed to an unhap... [ Continue Reading ]