Opening: Have you ever been in a
courtroom during a trial, or is “Law and Order” your only courtroom experience?
Do you like the confrontation that comes from two opposing sides, or would you
prefer that everyone “just get along?”
Scripture: Read Acts 15:1-35.
Insights:
- The agitators are at it again. The group that wanted circumcision for the Gentile believers are called the Judaizers. They criticized Peter back in Acts 11 about preaching the Gospel to Gentiles. Now, they are attacking Paul and Barnabas, first in Antioch, and then in Jerusalem. It becomes a full-fledged brouhaha. It also becomes the defining moment for the new Church: will it be a Jewish sect or a new religion? The decision made at the Jerusalem Council set the course for the rest of history.
- Peter comes to the defense of Barnabas and Paul (note the name order here – interesting). These three share their stories of converting Gentiles to the faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in their midst.
- James has become the leader of the Jerusalem Church. It is only natural. He was Jesus’ half-brother, son of Mary and Joseph. He uses the term “judgment” in verse 19 which further indicates his prestige. He would later write the Book of James, which has a strong Jewish influence.
- Following the conflict and the ruling sanctioning Gentile evangelism, the church at Antioch in Syria continues to thrive (see Acts 15:35). It would become the birth place of the famous Christian father John Chrysostom (347-407 A.D). He estimated that the Christian population was about 100,000 people by the late 300’s A.D.
Life Questions:
- The Judaizers wanted to force Gentiles who became Christians to adhere to the Mosaic Law, including circumcision. They wanted to make it harder and put up barriers to becoming a believer. Were there any barriers for you to become a believer? The Gospel brings freedom and life, not rules and ceremonies.
Prayer Focus: That we can be clear on
the essentials of the faith, and not let incidentals keep us from serving
together the Kingdom of God.
