A rolled papyrus letter tied with cord and sealed with clay, resting on a stone ledge above a road that drops toward a distant coast.

The Book of

Acts 15

One hard question stirs up sharp debate in the young church. The answer travels back down the road in a letter.

40 verses≈ 6 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

The Dispute over Circumcision

Men from Judea

Then 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.”

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And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

Up to Jerusalem

Sent off by the church in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas take the road south through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling of the Gentiles’ conversion as they go.

The Council at Jerusalem

Believers from the Pharisees

But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are

Acts 15:11

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

A papyrus letter half unrolled on a wooden table beside a reed pen, an inkpot and an oil lamp.

and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

It seemed good…

Whiteboard

The council’s answer in one picture. Gentile believers are not asked to be circumcised or to take on the whole law of Moses. Grace saves them, just as it saves Jewish believers. They are asked only to avoid four things. “You will do well to avoid these things.”

Reflect

No burden beyond

The church in Jerusalem chose “not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements.” It is easy to add our own extras to the gospel: habits, styles, boxes to tick. What have you ever expected of other believers that God never asked of them?

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

A congregation gathered in a lamplit courtyard in Antioch at dusk while a man seen from behind reads aloud from an open letter.

So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

0:10

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.

But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.

Question

Quick question

The council wrote a short letter to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

What did the letter NOT ask the Gentile believers to do?

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins

Paul

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

A harbor quay in morning light: two men boarding a ship on one side, two others with packs walking away up a coast road on the other, all seen from behind.

Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord

Acts 15:40

And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

Two teams, two roads

Barnabas takes Mark and sails for Cyprus. Paul takes Silas overland, north through Syria and Cilicia, toward the churches of the first journey.

Pray

Commended to grace

Even a “sharp” disagreement between good friends did not stop the work. Paul and Silas left “commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.” Pray for a relationship that has been strained, and ask the Lord to keep His work going through it, as He did when one team became two.

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Acts 15

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A verse to carry with you

On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.

Acts 15:11

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