From Acts 14-15
The Jewish Christians had to accommodate themselves to some new ideas because of the Gentiles coming to faith. Initially this caused a bit of a stir, but God led them through it. Likewise in ministry today we need to be sensitive to the viewpoints of others and the leading of the Spirit. We might learn something and God’s kingdom will grow.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
I’m guessing that news of the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit was reasonably well known in Judea including Jerusalem. Acts 11.1-2 seems to indicate this. Paul and Barnabas probably knew about this because they had been in these areas following this event and perhaps in their own ministry they had similar results.
Just previous to this point Paul and Barnabas have had an argument with some others, over whether the Gentile believers should be circumcised or not. Im guessing Paul is arguing they don’t need to be circumcised. The apostles generally endorse baptism rather than circumcision when their audiences believe the gospel. But because of the argument they headed for Jerusalem to get a ruling from the leadership over the matter. The council meeting at Jerusalem over this issue is the first Christian council.
Paul and Barnabas describe in detail the conversion of the Gentiles (Acts 15.3). The Pharisees says it is necessary to circumcise them and order them to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15.5).
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 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. 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. 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? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15.6-11)
Peter gives a brief overview of when the Gentiles came to faith when he told them about Jesus. His main point is that because God chose and cleansed them (he knows this because they received the Spirit) they don’t need any further burden placed on them. Circumcision or the law of Moses. This suggests that the Jews thought the uncircumcised needed to be circumcised in order to be accepted by God. This seems to be a fair implication of Gen 17.14. Likewise it suggests continued practice of the law of Moses (this is the ‘yoke’ Peter speaks about) was required to maintain God’s acceptance. The Jews thought disregarding Moses’ law was sinful.
Peters key statement states that both Jews and Gentiles will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus. Amen to that! But what does he mean? This warrants further discussion, but I propose there are three intertwined elements at work here. Spirit, Faith and Grace.
- God gives the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is needed for salvation. Jew or Gentile, if the Spirit indwells a person, they will be saved by the work of the Spirit. People cannot be saved without the work of the Spirit.
- God cleanses by faith produced by the Spirit. Previously they were all unclean, but now God has cleansed them by faith. They are thus clean and acceptable.
- These are both products of ‘the grace of the Lord Jesus’. This is a bit of a ‘choose your own adventure’ expression. What I mean is generally people will import their own theology into this expression because the text doesn’t really explain what it means by it. My opinion is that Peter is referring to the gospel. First, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is an act of supreme grace. Second, believing the gospel is an act of grace (Acts 18.27) and through it Jesus is saving people (1 Cor 15.2).
12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul fas they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 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.’
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.” (Acts 15.12-21)
James as leader of the church gives his informed decision. As Peter argued, the Gentiles don’t have to be circumcised of obey the law of Moses. Rather they are instructed to observe these instructions because they will be in fellowship with other Jewish believers who do. These instructions are given so they do not upset the Jews.
About Mission
The Jewish Christians had to accommodate themselves to some new ideas because of the Gentiles coming to faith. Initially this caused a bit of a stir, but God led them through it. Likewise in ministry today we need to be sensitive to the viewpoints of others and the leading of the Spirit. We might learn something and God’s kingdom will grow.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights
