[:en]SCRIPTURE: ACTS 15
“We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” (Acts 15:11)
“You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of the strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things” (Acts 15:29)
THE COUNCIL AT JERUSALEM (vs. 1-21)
Some men came from Judea to Antioch to teach circumcision. The Pharisees required Gentiles to be circumcised and to obey the law of Moses. Their teaching was a denial of salvation by grace through faith. So, Paul and Barnabas decided to write a letter to their Gentile believers.
THE COUNCIL’S LETTER TO GENTILE BELIEVER ( vs. 22-35)
Paul and Barnabas sent two leaders – Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas to deliver their letter to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. The letter stated the following restrictions: to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of the strangled animals and from sexual immorality. The people were encouraged with the message.
DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN PAUL AND BARNABAS (vs. 36-41)
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark and visit the brothers in all the town they had preached but Paul refused because John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia before. So they had a sharp argument and parted ways. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed for Cyprus while Paul and Silas left for Syria and Cilicia.
SUMMARY;
Salvation is by the grace of God through faith. Man made rules and traditions cannot nullify this central truth. So, do not allow kingdom truth to be mixed with church laws.
Disagreement between God’s servants may happen. But never allow it to hold back God’s work.
[:]