Day 46 - Acts 15

Just in case you haven't noticed, I only posted three chapters this past week.  No worries, though, I have some time off from work coming up tomorrow and Wednesday which will give me an opportunity to do some double-posting to catch up.


We are half-way through Acts and, before you know it, we'll be in Matthew! So let's go!


Acts 15 (Read it here)

While Paul and Barnabas were away on their missionary journey some men began teaching Gentile believers something pretty controversial. They basically were teaching that all Gentiles men (non-Jewish) had to be circumcised in order to be accepted by God. (v. 1) This was an Old Testament requirement by God as a way of distinguishing people from the community of Israel from those outside. (See Genesis 17:7-14) In blunt terms, these men said that having foreskin on a man's penis separated him from God and the possibility of being saved.

Paul, who used to be the stingiest follower and teacher of the Law as a Pharisee, thought this was ridiculous! He and Barnabas completely disagreed with this teaching! But there was not complete agreement between the sides; the debate couldn't be settled. The church decided that the apostles needed to be asked their opinion on this matter. (v. 2)

They were graciously welcomed at the church in Jerusalem. However, not long after giving the church an update on how the Gentiles were accepting Jesus by the masses, other Pharisees who had become Christ-followers stood up in defense of the Old Testament law of circumcision. (vs. 4-5)

After hearing a debate back and forth, the apostles (the remaining disciples of Jesus and the leaders they had appointed over the church) met together to talk this out. (v. 6)

When the apostles and elders returned, the apostle Peter addressed the gathered crowd.  He reminded them that God had given him a vision of how he shouldn't discriminate Gentiles from Jews. The Gentiles were not to be treated as demonic, unclean people. The kicker, though, is that God has been showing his acceptance of the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit! (v. 8) For when hearts come to faith in Christ, the heart makes the person (body and all) acceptable to God and worthy of salvation! (v. 9) From now on Jews and Gentiles are equals!

Peter insisted that requiring this law now would be a challenge to God's new covenant which was introduced by Jesus at the last supper in Luke 22:20. (v. 10) This covenant replaces the old covenant. Accepting Jesus and the purpose of his sacrifice is way more powerful than any removal of foreskin. All people are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus.

By the way, who would want to circumcise these grown men anyway? Ouch!

When Peter had finished, James furthered his points by suggesting that the conversion of Gentiles was a fulfillment of prophecy. The prophet Amos, who lived about 800 years prior to this time, predicted a day where God would reach out in acceptance towards the rest of humanity (non-Israelites) and James suggested that that day had come! (vs. 13-17)

And since James was the bishop (or pastor) of the church in Jerusalem, he made the decision that requiring circumcision was not biblical anymore. (v. 19) However, it was decided that the Gentiles should not eat food or meat and blood from any strangled animals offered to false gods. They also should not engage in sexual immorality (which would primarily include avoiding pre-marital sex [fornication] and prostitution). (v. 20)

You may ask, "Why these four rules?"

It may sound like a random selection to appease the Pharisees in the crowd, but these four guidelines are very specific and intricately linked to one another.

Do not eat any food or the meat and/or blood from a strangled animal refers to things that are being sacrificed to a false god or idol, we understand that. That food is tainted.  However, outside most of the temples where these activities took place were prostitutes.  One way of worshiping the false gods of the area was to engage in sex during the services! No lie! One of the main reasons why many false deities permitted and even promoted such a practice was for a fertility blessing. Having sex in front of these idols was thought to be a way for a man to assure that he stays fertile and able to have children.

Simply put, these rules made it impossible for the new Gentile believers to follow Jesus and the false idols. They had to choose one way or the other. God is still a jealous god. (Exodus 20:5)

The apostles and elders thought that all Gentile believers should know what they had decided. So they sent two men, Judas and Silas, with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch (v. 22, where they started their journey in Acts 13)

These men took a letter containing their decision that also was signed by all of the apostles and church leaders. (v. 23) Within the letter, the apostles and church leaders specifically said that the teaching that was going around (that Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved) was totally not from them or God. (v. 24) Apparently Gentiles were already questioning as to whether this teaching was valid or not. (v. 27)

The four requirements were laid out for all Gentiles within the letter (v. 29) and were delivered to the believers of Antioch. (v. 30) There was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message. (v. 31) Of course they were excited! No one had to be circumcised! Can you imagine such a thing without modern drugs or anesthetics?

In verse 36 Paul wanted to go back with Barnabas to all the cities that they had gone to in their journey together to check up on the believers. (v. 36) Barnabas was all for it but wanted to take along his cousin, Mark again. (v. 37) Paul wasn't cool with that since Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. (v. 38) Luke is unclear as to what the exact circumstance was when Mark left them in Acts 13:13 but we do know that when Paul was stoned and Barnabas helped him back into the city of Lystra, Mark was nowhere to be found.

Yet, Mark was Barnabas' cousin, so he insisted that he be allowed to accompany them again. The disagreement separated the two.  Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus while Paul and Silas joined forces and went to Syria. (vs. 39-40) Perhaps, to Barnabas, blood was indeed thicker than water (even though Paul had shed blood with him).




Questions






1.) If circumcision is no longer a big deal to God, then what does that mean for tattoos and piercings? Are they frowned upon by God or just something that traditional church people fuss about? Why do you think that?


2.) The apostles and church leaders gave the Gentiles requirements on following God which made it impossible to serve both God and the false gods of the area. Are there things that you find difficult to leave behind that aren't beneficial to you in order to wholeheartedly follow God? If so, what are they? Why can't you have both of these things be your main focus?


3.) Paul and Barnabas had served God faithfully together. Barnabas had helped a battered Paul limp back to Lystra after being stoned. No doubt they were close but Barnabas' cousin, Mark, drove a wedge between them. Have you ever had that happen to you and a really close friend? From what you know about this story, who do you agree with Paul or Barnabas?