Day 104 – Monday, May 26, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Acts 15

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Conflict Over Circumcision

1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

³ So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. ⁴ And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. ⁵ But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” 

(Acts 15:1–5, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Acts 15 is a watershed Scripture in the book of Acts, perhaps in the entire New Testament. It changes the rules of the early church by making room officially for Gentiles to be part of the Church of God.
• In this chapter, we see Jewish Christians coming from Judea to teach new converts in Antioch that circumcision was necessary for salvation. The official name for such people is “Judaizers.” They were attempting to force all Gentile Christians to basically observe the Jewish law in order to be saved.
• The division was so fierce that the group decided that Paul and Barnabus should go to Jerusalem to discuss the question of circumcision.
• As they went, they testified of the conversion of the Gentiles, and great joy was spread throughout Phoenicia and Samaria.
• Some of the Pharisees in the cities disputed with them and also declared the need for circumcision.

The Jerusalem Council

⁶ Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. ⁷ And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. ⁸ So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, ⁹ and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

¹² Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: ¹⁴ Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of 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 will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;

I will rebuild its ruins,

And I will set it up;

¹⁷ So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,

Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,

Says the Lord who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “Known to God from eternity are all His works. ¹⁹ Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰ but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 

(Acts 15:6–21, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The apostles and elders came together in Jerusalem.
• The debate was heated and there seemed to be no consensus.
• Peter rose up and told about the call of God to the Gentiles through hist ministry. He explained that the Holy Spirit confirmed it through baptizing them in the Holy Spirit. If God made no distinction, why should the church? He called circumcision a yoke around the necks of the Gentiles.
• After Peter’s speech, the group listened to Paul and Barnabus’ account of the revival among the Gentiles.
• James, known as a leader in the church, rose and gave a speech concerning prophecies that foretold the salvation of the Gentiles. He declared that they should not overly burden the Gentiles who were turning to God.
• Instead they should only require a few things: abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. These are enough.

The Jerusalem Decree

²² Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

²³ They wrote this letter by them:

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,

To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

²⁴ Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment—²⁵ it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men 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 will also report the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell. 

(Acts 15:22–29, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The apostles and elders were pleased with this suggestion, and purposed to send chosen men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabus to deliver this ruling.
• They wrote a letter outlining what was expected of them upon salvation. They would not require circumcision, but only the things named above. They endorsed Paul and Barnabus, and greeted them farewell.
• This opened a door officially for the Gentiles to be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit in the eyes of the church.

Continuing Ministry in Syria

³⁰ So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. ³² Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. ³³ And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.

³⁴ However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. ³⁵ Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 

(Acts 15:30–35, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul and Barnabus returned to Antioch with the letter, and the people were encouraged greatly. Two prophets came to Antioch, Silas and Judas, and preach their. They were sent back to Jerusalem to provide a report of the Gentiles reactions.
• Silas, though, decided to stay in Antioch. So did Paul and Barnabus.

Division Over John Mark

³⁶ Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. 

(Acts 15:36–41, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul sought to return to the churches established on his first missionary journey and asked Barnabus to go with him. However, Barnabus wanted to take John Mark, who had left them while on the first journey.
• Paul insisted that they should not take him, and referenced his leaving them in the middle of the work. The division was so strong that Barnabus took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul chose Silas and went to Syria and Cilicia. They all encouraged and strengthened the churches.
• The work went on and, in some, expanded because two groups went onto the field instead of just one.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.