1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
While Paul and Barnabas were staying in Antioch, some men came down from Judea and began to teach that the Gentiles could not be saved unless they were circumcised according to the custom of Moses. This was a serious situation and Paul and Barnabas debated over the merits of their stipulations. Paul, Barnabas, and some others were sent up to Jerusalem to get a resolution on the matter from the apostles and elders. On their journey up they stopped in at the churches in Phoenicia and Samaria and shared how the Gentiles had received salvation by faith alone and this brought great joy to the believers there.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they described all the things that God had done with them. Some of the Pharisees stood up and said it was necessary for the new Gentile believers to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. This was a slightly different message from those who had traveled to Antioch. Luke specifically mentioned that these Pharisees were believers and they were not stating that circumcision was a condition of salvation but that it was a requirement for the ongoing Christian walk (sanctification). The apostles and elders gathered together to consider the matter giving it close evaluation and consideration. Finally, Peter stood up and, based on his experience with Cornelius and his household, explained that the only requirement was that Gentiles “hear the gospel and believe.” His evidence was that God bore witness to their belief by giving them the Holy Spirit in the same way he had to the Jews. The Jews, therefore, had no spiritual advantage over them for they had received the Holy Spirit without circumcision or obedience to the law of Moses. Peter also pointed out they were placing demands on the Gentiles that God hadn’t and that they themselves were unable to bear. Peter concluded that Jews are saved in the same way, by grace through faith alone, as they, the Gentiles, are.
The gathering fell silent and then listened to Barnabas and Paul relay the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. When they finished speaking, James explained how Peter’s recount of how God had saved the Gentiles was in accordance with God’s prophecy in Amos 9:11-12. The paraphrased prophecy speaks of a time when Messiah will reestablish the Davidic kingdom after the tribulation and rule from David’s throne in Jerusalem. Peter’s experience aligns with what God will do in the future kingdom and therefore poses no problem in the church context. They were not to restrict something God had planned from the beginning and was blessing in the present. James concluded that they should place no additional burden on the Gentiles but that it was prudent that they abstain from things that were commonly associated with participation in idol worship including abstaining from food connected to idol worship, sexual immorality most likely linked to temple prostitution, animals strangled in pagan rituals, and from blood drunk or eaten in raw meat. These things would help the Gentiles avoid things that would hinder their witness for the Gospel. James did not include circumcision or observing the Sabbath in this list. James’s list included the very basic things that would allow the Jewish and Gentile Christians to co-exist in harmony. These were the same things found in Leviticus 17 and 18 for the resident alien to live within the Jewish community.
The leaders of the church agreed and sent a letter with Paul and Barnabas to that effect. Along with them, the church sent Judas and Silas who would back up the content of the letter with a word of mouth testimony. When they gathered the church in Antioch and read the letter, the believers there were encouraged and rejoiced. Then Judas and Silas remained for a period and exhorted and encouraged the believers. After some time they returned to Jerusalem in peace but Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch and continued to teach and preach the word of God.
When you are confronted with a challenge in the church, what is your response? Do you react based on your personal preference, guided by what you have always done? Or are you open to examining the Scriptures in Christian debate to really understand the foundational requirements that God has for the church?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Advance of the Gospel: Philippians 1-2