Acts 15 Commentary
Chapter 15 could be called the “Chapter of Arguments”. The first argument is serious and concerns the Law of Moses for the Gentile believers. The second argument is less serious but good enough for a split.
You would think the battle with the Pharisees ended years ago! But we have them in the church and so we have another round. Nevertheless, it is easier when we fight from the same corner – the Jesus corner.
We have the New Testament, therefore, the question of salvation by grace isn’t an item of the agenda. That obviously throws out all other rituals like circumcision. We look at the Law of Moses through the lens of the LORD Jesus Christ. We find no conflicts. It wasn’t this clear to some of our brothers back then – our Pharisee brothers.
Salvation by grace means freedom from the rituals that stood as symbols of salvation. It doesn’t open the door to pagan practices. You would guess the ‘Pharisees’ among the believers worried about this kind of freedom. Mostly, the don’ts of the “do’s and don’ts” of the Law of Moses remain intact.
The Council at Jerusalem defined for all time that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus alone – it flows out of the Grace of the LORD alone. This throws out the requirements of the Law such as circumcision as demanded by the Pharisees.
You easily understand them. They missed many repeated lessons from the LORD Jesus Christ on this subject – what happens when you spend all your time arguing and not listening. He came to fulfill the Law of Moses and not to abolish it. So the law on sexual immorality was fulfilled this way: “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The Council at Jerusalem repeats these Laws for the Church, for all places and all time.
The argument about Paul and Barnabas over Mark is interesting. Barnabas’ character is such that Mark is always welcome. He is the one who took Paul to the apostles when everyone was scared, not believing Paul’s conversion was genuine. He is the one who went and fetched Paul from Tarsus and obviously helped him to settle at Antioch. This is our Barnabas – always a good and peaceful man.
Paul, on the other hand, is a rough piece of diamond – a ‘no-jokes’ leader who takes no prisoners. You pay for your mistakes. You learn your lessons fast and quick. Only serious contenders enter the competition. It’s never for weak soldiers. This is our Paul.
Both leaders have their points. The scriptures teach us the possibility of a human conflict between two godly elements. Many a pastor have found themselves conflicted similarly when their fatherly heart interfered with the need for discipline.
A split ensues.
But you guess the LORD isn’t bothered too much as the Spirit remains quiet. Probably the argument also serves as a useful scattering of productive resources for a greater good. Who knows?
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