College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 15:6-29
THE ELDERS AND APOSTLES MEET TO SETTLE THE DISPUTE. Acts 15:6-29
a.
Peter's speech. Acts 15:6-11.
And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.
And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.
Acts 15:6 The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. In this private meeting there was yet a further discussion of the matter and no little disputing between those present (possibly between the elders and Paul and Barnabas). It is best sometimes to allow for an expression of all present before any logical conclusion can be drawn. Until all the evidence is in there can be no real comprehensive decision. It would seem that such was the procedure here in Jerusalem. At whatever circumstance, following the words of disputes: Peter arose to state his position.
508.
What was the first act of Paul and Barnabas upon arriving in Jerusalem?
509.
What was admitted by all? What was lacking according to some?
510.
Who alone had the power to decide on the issue?
511.
Why do we say that the dispute in the private meeting was between the elders and Paul and Barnabas?
Acts 15:7-11 The apostle to the circumcision spoke here on this subject as he had spoken some years before on the same subject to the same listeners. He had not forgotten the lesson Jehovah had given him in Joppa and Caesarea. He further stated here that God Himself had selected him of all the apostles that by his mouth should the Gentiles receive the gospel. A simple statement of reiteration was all that was necessary to call to their mind the reception of the Holy Spirit by the household of Cornelius. Yea, and likewise to call to mind that his was the work and choice of God. Here, now is the point of Peter's speechhe says in essence: If you now demand that the Gentiles be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, you are acknowledging that either you did not believe God the first time or that you are unwilling to accept His decision. Peter calls such action and thought tempting God and further than this he says, Why try to bind on the Gentiles the yoke of the law? Do you like it? Do you obey it? Yea, did even our fathers keep it? Nay, it became a galling burden to be borne. Why then bring the Gentiles under such a yoke? As a final word of proof Peter reminds the Jews that in the light of their failure to keep the law of customs and commandments they would necessarily have to be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus. If that is true, and surely any sincere Jew could see that it was, then why complain when God cleansed the hearts of the Gentiles through faith and saved them on the same basis of grace?
This silenced the assembly. There was not much that could be said in light of the irresistible logic of Peter's words; and most especially since previous to this time they had glorified God at the conversion of the uncircumcised household of Cornelius. (cf. Acts 11:18).
b.
Paul and Barnabas tell of their work. Acts 15:12.
And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
Acts 15:12 In the midst of the silence Paul and Barnabas again rehearsed in detail the miracles and wonders God granted to them in confirming His word among the heathen. The emphasis here put upon the miracles and wonders wrought by God was based upon the same promise as that of Peter, i.e. if God so worked with the apostles as they carried the gospel to the heathen, surely He was not displeased with the work of these men but was rather putting His stamp of approval upon it.
512.
Why all these speeches?
513.
Had Peter ever addressed this same group on this same subject before? When? Where?
514.
What was the point of Peter's speech?
515.
Show the common sense of Peter's closing remarks. (Acts 15:11).
516.
Give the point of the speeches of Paul and Barnabas.
c.
The speech of James. Acts 15:13-21.
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:
Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:
That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.
Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;
but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
Acts 15:13-18 Now for the final word upon the subject. This was given by James the Lord's brother. There is much traditional material written concerning the piety and standing of James among the Jews in Jerusalem. Be that as it may, it at least appears that he was a leader in the church at Jerusalem.
While all were silent in giving attention to the words about to be spoken, James said in essence: Here is my judgment. You have just heard from Peter how God visited the Gentiles and took out of them some who would be His. Yea, this is even as the prophet Amos said. do you recall the prophecy? Possibly you do but you missed its application. Hear again the prophet and see afresh the fulfillment of his words. -After these things-'Yea, the very things that have come to pass in our history, i.e. the fall of the Jewish nation and the general dissolution of this proud people. After these things something is going to happen. What will it be? Jehovah will return to build again the tabernacle or house of David, which is fallen.
517.
Who was this man James?
518.
What did he add that had not already been said?
519.
Tell me about the building again of the tabernacle of Davidwhat is it and how is it said to be built again in the time of James?
How is this to be understood? Surely not in the literal building again of the house of David, for such was far from being so when James spoke. and yet James states that this prophecy is having its fulfillment. The only possible explanation is a spiritual one, that the house of David to be built again was a spiritual house. Yea, the ruins to be set up were to be from those Jews who had suffered under the penalty of their own rebellion and had yet found favor with God through Jesus Christ. They together were being builded into a habitation of God in the Spirit. That the residue of men seek after the Lord (Ephesians 2:22; Acts 15:17.) This refers to the small remnant among the Jews who would find Christ and thus have part in this wonderful promise of the prophet. And then comes the word that bears directly upon the issue at hand. James says that in the building of David's house through Christ not only would there be those few Jews who would find a part in this house but all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called. This settles the issue. From times of old God had determined that these things would be so.
Acts 15:19-21 What a splendid act and decision it was on the part of James to make such a statement. Well could he be called James the Just. The judgment of James was not only the expression of his own heart, but that of all who had honestly listened to the evidence: that, any from among the Gentiles who turned to God through Christ were not to be troubled with the Jewish law and traditions.
That this decision might be known to all and that no further trouble come up over it, it was decided to put it in written form. In this letter it would be well, James suggests, that some provision be made for the social intercourse of the Jews and Gentiles; and therefore certain restrictions about eating should be included so they might dine together; also to abstain from those obvious sins connected with idol worship and from fornication. The reason for the apparent compromise in these restrictions of eating is found not in the spirit of compromise but in that of wisdom; for Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath and to thus give no forbearance in light of this was not the part of wisdom. This seemed to settle the issue in the private meeting.
520.
What word given by James relates directly to the issue at hand?
521.
Why agree so readily with James?
522.
Why the restrictions in the letter?
d.
The letter on circumcision. Acts 15:22-29.
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.
Acts 15:22-29 The whole church was called together by the apostles and elders and with the suggestion of their leaders they chose two of their chief men; Judas, called Barsabbas and Silas and sent them with Paul and Barnabas to bear the letter. Here is the letter, the first written document of the apostolic church, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. written with the purpose and theme of unity. Oh, how the same message is needed today! (Refer to Acts 15:23-29).