Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Unity in Christ — Acts 15:12-29 Daily Word
At the Jerusalem Council, apostles debate whether Gentiles must follow Jewish law. After hearing testimonies from Peter, Barnabas, and Paul, James offers a wise, unified decision guided by the Holy Spirit that affirms salvation through grace alone.
Unity in Christ
[Scripture]t
[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.’ (Acts 15:12-18, ESV)
[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. (Acts 15:19-23, ESV)
[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.” (Acts 15:24-29, ESV)
[Daily Word]
Peter declared that both Jews and Gentiles are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus. (v. 12) Barnabas and Paul then added to this by citing the “signs and wonders” that appeared during their missionary work among the Gentiles as evidence that Gentiles need not be circumcised or bound by the law in order to become God’s people.
In particular, Paul described these signs and wonders as things “which God had done among the Gentiles,” confessing that God had guided their missionary journeys. In other words, the signs and wonders were works of God’s power by which He affirmed and supported the Gentile mission of Barnabas and Paul.
After the arguments of Peter, Barnabas, and Paul had concluded, James then offered his position on the question of the salvation of the Gentiles. James agreed with Peter that circumcision and the law are no longer required for the salvation of the Gentiles. This is because, as verse 14 states, [14] Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14, ESV) God had visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for His name. In particular, the earlier words of the prophets — namely, the prophecy of Amos — confirm this, as seen in [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 (Acts 15:16-17, ESV). 1Amos 9:11-12; Jer 12:15-16; Isa 45:21
In other words, just as the expression “rebuilding the fallen tent of David” (v. 16) illustrates, God desires to restore the kingdom of the Lord, and the requirement to observe circumcision and the law does not apply to the Gentiles. Therefore, [19] Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, (Acts 15:19, ESV) — only four minimum requirements are set forth for the Gentiles: ① abstaining from things polluted by idols, ② sexual immorality, ③ things that have been strangled, and ④ blood.
This is because, as recorded in Lev 17–18, the regulations given to the foreigners residing among the people of Israel must be observed. These represent longstanding Jewish tradition and custom. Therefore, these requirements are to be kept not for the sake of salvation, but for the sake of unity between Jews and Gentiles. Everyone agrees with James’s proposal. (v. 22) The Jerusalem church then sends Judas called Barsabbas 2*Regarding Barsabbas (Bar-Sabbas: son of the Sabbath), Luke refers to him as a prophet in Acts 15:32. and Silas to the church at Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. With them, a letter containing the decisions reached at the Jerusalem Council is sent.
The contents of that letter are found in verses 23–29.
The recipients of this letter are “the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.” (v. 23) Then in verse 24, the identity of those who had insisted that circumcision was necessary for salvation is revealed — they are people who went to the church at Antioch on their own initiative, without any authorization from the Jerusalem church or the apostles, and troubled the Gentile believers. However, the crucial truth is that it is the Holy Spirit who has brought this history to pass. (v. 28)
What God has made known once again — through James — are the four prohibitions: ① abstaining from things polluted by idols, ② sexual immorality, ③ things that have been strangled, and ④ blood. Just as circumcision and the law were the customs of the Jewish people, these four things represent the customs relevant to the Gentiles. It is by keeping away from these things that God’s people can fellowship and be united with one another.
God is good.
The way God works out goodness is grounded in the principles of love and grace. Love means embracing Gentiles as brothers, and grace is the salvation God extends through Jesus Christ.
God desires that His people join together in one heart and one mind to take part in His redemptive work. Therefore, we pray in the name of the Lord that we too would hold fast to His will and participate in it through faith alone.
Council of Jerusalem, Gentile mission, freedom from the law, guidance of the Holy Spirit, Acts 15
Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com
