Acts 15:1-35 | "Power in Agreement"

Public Reading of Scripture

Acts 15:22–29 ESV

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. 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.”

Pray

Introduction to Theme

When the apostle Paul returned to Antioch, the city where he was sent out from in Acts 13, he gathered the church together and gave a missionary report.

Acts 14:27 says they “declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.”

This is not a Paul-centric testimony. Paul’s message to the church was not about what Paul had done, or the doors Paul had opened.

Paul’s testimony praised “all that God had done.” How God “had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.”

God is the initiator. God is the actor in this book of Acts. God — the Father, through the Son, by the Holy Spirit.

And if we as a church make our mission about continuing in what God initiated, joining the work that God is continuing to do, then we will see God working and opening doors of faith, and we will be able to give God the praise for the great things He has done as well!

Paul and his co-laborers have encountered resistance in various forms as they have worked as witnesses for Jesus — preaching, teaching, making disciples — but now in Acts 15 they must work hard for the sake of attaining unity and agreement among the church, in response to questionable teaching and disagreement.

How should the church handle disagreements?

What does the church do when questions arise and not everyone agrees on the answer?

What about questions of doctrine, about practice, about which questions are worth debating and which are not?

In the letter you’ve heard read, Acts 15:25, they write: “having come to one accord.” Lit., “having become of one mind.” This unity, this agreement, was not something that “just happened.” They had to work at it! They labored for it! But notice — they attained it! God gave them peace and guided them into one accord.

Acts 15 does not give us a prescription or process for resolving disagreement within the church, but it does describe for us how the early church found resolution and unity, especially to an important theological question, and we can learn from their example and their willingness to become like minded in the Lord.

I. Acts 15:1 | Questionable Teaching

Acts 15:1 ESV

1 But 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.”

These men from Judea came down. They were not sent, but came on their own accord. And they were teaching.

Many are eager to teach, but God cautions:

James 3:1 ESV

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Not all teachers teach truth, no matter how well-intentioned or sincere they may be in what they believe!

These men were from Judea — they were known as Judaizers— Christians who believed that in order to be saved a person had to keep the custom of Moses.

They did not have a problem with welcoming Gentiles into the church, so long as the Gentiles “look like us, act like us, worship like us” who follow the custom of Moses. Who live according to our history and tradition.

And to them, it made sense! They didn’t see a problem with that.

The custom of Moses instructed God’s people how to live! Moses taught what God had given to him. Why shouldn’t Christians conform to the tradition and continue to live by Moses’ customs? God hasn’t changed!

So they taught:

“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Circumcision was a physical sign that a person was part of God’s covenant people. It is how a man was identified as being a descendant of Abraham and thus a descendant of God’s promises.

John the Baptist was circumcised (Luke 1:59) and even Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:21) all according to the custom of Moses.

The problem here is not whether Gentiles can be saved, but HOW Gentiles are saved. This is an important theological question, and it caused disagreement.

II. Acts 15:2 | Disagreement

Acts 15:2 ESV

2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

That word “dissension” involves “intense emotions” — things got “heated” (LN). The word “debate” involves “forceful differences” (LN). This became a big disagreement.

The things we are most convinced of we are most passionate about.

Both sides are convinced they are correct, and their debate does not sway either side, so they take the question to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, to a group that represents authority. They start their journey to resolution.

III. Acts 15:3-5 | Journey to Resolution

Acts 15:3 ESV

3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

Paul, Barnabas and others argue their case on the way. They “describe in detail the conversion of the Gentile.” They lay out their case systematically. And God says “Amen” to their word, because their report brought about great “joy.”

Joy is a fruit of God’s Spirit (Gal 5:22). And being a fruit of God’s Spirit — joy does not come from any other source!

The truth produces fruit, and the fruit of God’s Spirit and blessings is enjoyed at their word.

One way we know if our belief is correct or not, is whether or not our position leads to fruit. Does our conviction bring fruit of God’s Spirit to others? Does our conviction bring joy to others?

Acts 15:4 ESV

4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

As they had in Antioch, they now declare in Jerusalem what the Lord has done. Their experience of God working contributes to their understanding of the truth. Their evidence is God’s work!

They have witnessed not only the Lord bringing about salvation to the Gentiles, but also the Lord confirming that salvation with His Spirit and fruit of joy.

Acts 15:5 ESV

5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

The question that began chapter 15 now comes back in view, but this time it is voiced through the Pharisees. “It is necessary --- (a strong term) — they must keep the law of Moses.” They are convinced!

Their adherence to their customs and tradition has blinded them to the new work God is doing among them!

IV. Acts 15:6-21 | Deliberation

Acts 15:6 ESV

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

It is okay that there are disagreements in the church! But what is done with those disagreements will reveal the spirit of that church.

The church debates, and then Peter, an apostle who walked with Jesus, stands up to speak.

A. Peter’s Speech (Acts 15:7-11)

Acts 15:7 ESV

7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Peter begins to ground his argument in what God had done in his own experience — an experience the assembly knew well.

How Peter had a vision of clean and unclean animals descending from heaven on a sheet and God telling him not to call unclean what God has already made clean. How God saved Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort and his family and how Peter came to know that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34).

Acts 15:8–9 ESV

8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Not only did God act first toward the Gentiles, but God acted knowingly — “God knows their heart.” God knows their true self.

God did not look at their outward appearance. God didn’t wait to save them under the condition that they would be circumcised first.

God saved them by faith alone — cleansing their hearts by faith — and bore witness to them that they were saved by giving them the Holy Spirit.

God does not require you to clean up your life in order to save you! God knows everything about you. And yet while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

God knew everything about the Gentiles — but he saw all he needed to see in the heart to save — Faith.

Acts 15:10 ESV

10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

He’s speaking about the law of Moses. The “custom of Moses.” He calls out the obvious — no one can keep the law! No one can obey Moses enough to be saved! And by adding burdens to salvation, they are putting God to the test.

By adding burdens to salvation, they are doing the work of the devil, who likewise took Jesus to Jerusalem, set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” (Luke 4:9-11).

The devil tried to get Jesus to prove who he was by mis-using the word of God.

But Jesus did not need to perform any action to confirm who God already said He was! God already said: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” God had already spoken. God had already acted.

Peter goes on —

Acts 15:11 ESV

11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Salvation by grace through faith — That is the only requirement for salvation.

B. Barnabas and Paul’s Speech (Acts 15:12)

Acts 15:12 ESV

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.

Again, Paul and Barnabas speak of what God had done among the Gentiles. In a way God is being put on trial! Can God save these Gentiles unless they are circumcised? And so many are giving testimony to what God indeed had already done!

How the proconsul Sergius Paulus sought to hear the word of God in the city of Paphos, and believed. How the Gentiles in the city of Antioch of Pisidia believed! How both Jews and Greeks believed in Iconium. How a man in Lystra who was crippled was healed because he had faith to be made well. How many disciples were made there at Lystra. All…God working…!

C. James’ Speech (Acts 15:13-21)

Acts 15:13–18 ESV

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.’

Notice the different voices all saying the same thing. Including the scriptures! “the words of the prophets agree.” God’s word confirms what God is doing and what they are witnessing in the Gentiles coming to the faith.

This is not a new development with God!

Acts 15:19–21 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.”

Are Gentiles required to be circumcised to be saved? Should Gentiles keep the custom of Moses to be saved?

The consensus, based on God’s activity, is no --- not required. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone!

But Moses is read in the Jewish synagogues every Sabbath. The Law is read. What comes into view now is how to maintain a unity of fellowship between Jews and Gentiles. To do so will require the Gentiles to abstain from the things the Jews avoid because of what they read every week in Moses.

V. Acts 15:22-29 | Agreement

Acts 15:22–29 ESV

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. 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.”

The decision “seemed good to all.” There was a consensus.

Notice the apostles and elders are mentioned first, THEN it says “with the whole church.” Those who were ministers of God’s word, accountable to God for the oversight of the church, leaders in the church that know how to thank theologically and have wisdom and good judgment and are teachers of God’s word agree, and then lead the whole church in that agreement with accountability by the whole church.

This wasn’t a matter put to vote, but it was a matter led by God’s Spirit.

And after much debate they came “to one accord.”

They send this letter and notice — they sent men to accompany the letter to “tell the same things by word of mouth” (v.27).

In our day, this would present a caution to us against handling our disagreements with email or text messages — but to meet in person, face to face!

VI. Acts 15:30-35 | Resolution

Acts 15:30–31 ESV

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

Encouragement leads to more encouragement . . .

Acts 15:32–33 ESV

32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

God again blesses with the fruit of His Spirit of peace.

Acts 15:35 ESV

35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Conclusion

What the Judaizers failed to understand, was that the custom and law of Moses was always a preparation for what was to come.

The act of circumcision was an outward sign of something that God would do on the heart through Jesus Christ.

Paul would later write:

Romans 2:28–29 ESV

28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Moses finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.

There are many things we can debate as the church. But Acts 15 shows us that if God’s not acting on it, we don’t need to be debating it! If God hasn’t made his position known, we should leave it alone.

And God’s position is clear on salvation — because God acted in the most extreme way — He gave His Son, to die on the cross for our sin — Jew and Gentile alike — to be buried, and he raised him from the dead so that ALL who believe in Jesus will be saved by his grace.

May God help us as a church be about making that good news known!