“…Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors 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.” Acts 15: 10-11
The plains of Antioch enjoyed the blessing of three rivers which was a source of seafood for residents of the area. Antioch was ideal for domesticated livestock too, but with this commodity came the threat of Asiatic lions and Caspian tigers. The church at Antioch was threatened by a teaching more ravenous than any lion: the visiting men of Judea said “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
When you look at a map, Jerusalem is south of Antioch. So normally we would say “Go down to Jerusalem”. But for Israel it was always “going up to Jerusalem”, no matter where you were on the map. It was 2,575 feet above sea level, so if you were walking, it was a literal “going up” to Jerusalem. The Temple was there and all Israel made their pilgrimage at least four times a year during the high holy days. So physically and spiritually it was “going up” to Jerusalem for these apostles as well.
When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles and the elders. They then declared all that God had done with them. “But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them (Gentiles) and to order them to keep the law of Moses.’ “ (15: 4-5)
After the discussion which ensued, Peter stood and addressed them: “Brothers,….Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors 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.”
(15: 10-11)
The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. Then James spoke up. He was the overseeing pastor of the Jerusalem church, the half-brother of Jesus. He was also known as “ James the Just”, and was noted for his calloused knees from spending hours each day in prayer. He brought their attention to the prophecy of Amos:
“After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who hear My name, says the Lord, who does these things—things known from long ago.” Amos 9: 11-12
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” They resolved to write a letter to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
that first made it known that those who had gone to Antioch from Jerusalem advocating circumcision were unauthorized. Then the council recommended that the Gentiles decrease the tension by removing stumbling blocks from Jews—things such as abstaining from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.
Paul adds clarity to this issue: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jew I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the laws of Christ, so that I might win those without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” 1 Cor.9: 19-23
So 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. The spirit of Paul prevailed: “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.”
By this Paul indicated he was truly free.
Questions To Think About:
The plains of Antioch enjoyed the blessing of three rivers which was a source of seafood for residents of the area. Antioch was ideal for domesticated livestock too, but with this commodity came the threat of Asiatic lions and Caspian tigers. The church at Antioch was threatened by a teaching more ravenous than any lion: the visiting men of Judea said “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
When you look at a map, Jerusalem is south of Antioch. So normally we would say “Go down to Jerusalem”. But for Israel it was always “going up to Jerusalem”, no matter where you were on the map. It was 2,575 feet above sea level, so if you were walking, it was a literal “going up” to Jerusalem. The Temple was there and all Israel made their pilgrimage at least four times a year during the high holy days. So physically and spiritually it was “going up” to Jerusalem for these apostles as well.
When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles and the elders. They then declared all that God had done with them. “But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them (Gentiles) and to order them to keep the law of Moses.’ “ (15: 4-5)
After the discussion which ensued, Peter stood and addressed them: “Brothers,….Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors 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.”
(15: 10-11)
The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. Then James spoke up. He was the overseeing pastor of the Jerusalem church, the half-brother of Jesus. He was also known as “ James the Just”, and was noted for his calloused knees from spending hours each day in prayer. He brought their attention to the prophecy of Amos:
“After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who hear My name, says the Lord, who does these things—things known from long ago.” Amos 9: 11-12
“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.” They resolved to write a letter to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
that first made it known that those who had gone to Antioch from Jerusalem advocating circumcision were unauthorized. Then the council recommended that the Gentiles decrease the tension by removing stumbling blocks from Jews—things such as abstaining from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.
Paul adds clarity to this issue: “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jew I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the laws of Christ, so that I might win those without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” 1 Cor.9: 19-23
So 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. The spirit of Paul prevailed: “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.”
By this Paul indicated he was truly free.
Questions To Think About:
- The author compares false teaching to “ravenous lions and tigers” threatening Antioch. What modern, cultural “rules” or expectations threaten to pull you from the pure gospel of grace?
- The devotional notes that going to Jerusalem was always a physical and spiritual “going up.” What does a deliberate, spiritual “going up” look like in your life when you need to resolve a conflict or seek God’s wisdom?
- Peter openly admitted that neither they nor their ancestors could bear the heavy yoke of the Law. What burdens or expectations are you exhausted from trying to carry on your own strength?
- The Jerusalem Council asked the Gentiles to compromise on certain behaviors to decrease tension with Jewish believers. Is there a personal freedom you need to lay down right now for the sake of unity or peace in your community?
- According to the conclusion of the devotional, true freedom means being free from the opinions of others so you are free to serve them. How does this definition of being “truly free” challenge the world’s definition of freedom?
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