Walk Through the WORD Acts 15-16

Walk Through the WORD – Previous Posts

Today we walk through the Word Acts 15-16. Join us as we walk together through the Word of God–to better know Him and make Him known, to gain strength for the journey as we grow in our faith, and to join our hearts in unity as the body of Christ.

Acts 1-3
Acts 4-6
Acts 7-8
Acts 9-10
Acts 11-12
Acts 13-14

In our last study, we saw Paul and Barnabas sent off on their first missionary journey, and how God used them to win hearts and souls to the Lord. Our study today might make us a bit uncomfortable, because it deals with disagreements among believers. But the passage gives us a good model to follow when disagreements arise. After that, we’ll follow the missionary adventures of Paul on his second trip.

Walk Through the WORD Acts 15-16

Read: Acts 15:1-41.
Key Points: 

{vss. 1-4} Believers converted from Judaism began to teach the Antioch church that you had to be circumcised in order to be saved. Obviously this was  not something that God had ordained, but instead men caught up in a religious act that had been handed down since God’s covenant with Abraham. But the new covenant had no such designation. This was a very important matter for the early church to resolve. Why? Because of unity among the believers. The issues of foods and circumcision could have caused a split that separated Judaic believers from Gentiles, shattering the unity that Christ had called for in His final prayer for believers the night before He was crucified. Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to discuss the matter. Along the way and also with the apostles and Jerusalem believers, they shared news of how God had moved and Gentiles had been converted, which made the believers glad.
{vss. 5-11} Once the Jerusalem council convened, those believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees–which could have included Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (John 3:1-21; John 7:50-51; Mark 15:43-46; Matthew 27:57; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:39-42)–immediately dived into the necessity of circumcision in order to be saved. Peter, by now, easily considered the chief apostle, reminded them of how God had given the same Spirit to Gentile believers as He had to them, based purely on their faith. He also pointed out that the Law had grown to the point that it was a yoke and burden which was impossible to keep. His final point was that salvation comes through God’s grace and man’s faith.
{vss. 12-21} James, the leader of the Jerusalem church and the half brother of Jesus, agreed with Peter, pointing out that the Old Testament prophets were in agreement with God’s inclusion of the Gentiles by quoting Amos 9:11-12. He declared that they shouldn’t make it any more difficult for the Gentiles to turn to God than it really had to be, and suggested that they write a letter, which included a request to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals and from blood. When I see this list, something in me cringes, because I firmly believe that all things are lawful for me in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:23; 1 Corinthians 6:12), even though not all things are beneficial. But we’re also told not to do things that make others stumble (Romans 14:13-23; 1 Corinthians 8:13), and that is what I believe is the motivation behind the list that James suggested. Pagan worship was very prevalent in the Gentile world in the first century, and all the things listed by James were a part of this hedonistic “worship.”
{vss. 22-35} This passage records the letter the apostles sent to Gentile believers, delivered by Paul and Barnabas as well as two leaders among the believers in Jerusalem, Judas (Barsabbas) and Silas. The new believers were encouraged and strengthened, and unity among believers was maintained. The lesson here for the modern church is to avoid power struggles and seek after God and His Spirit when making decisions that could potentially affect unity among believers and contaminate Biblical doctrine. As the wife of a minister, my heart is heavy over power struggles I’ve seen within in the church, either from staff members who see it as their duty to “lord it over” (1 Peter 5:1-3) the church and manipulate situations to get their desired outcome, or from groups of congregants who see it as their duty to do the same. And the reason behind it all? I hate to say it, but it usually comes down to money. Oh, dear brothers and sisters in Christ! There is no room for this sort of behavior in God’s church! Like the early church, we must come to a place of agreement to preserve the unity of the saints. We cannot effectively be the Lord’s hands and feet in a world that desperately needs to know Him if we allow power struggles over money and other senseless things to divide us (Mark 3:25; Matthew 12:25).
{vss. 36-41} Once more, we see disagreements among believers in this passage, but this time a place of agreement could not be reached. Instead of reconciling their differences, Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways. At first glance, this passage may seem to refute what happened in the previous passage, but it’s important to realize that this disagreement stemmed from personality rather than doctrinal differences. Since no agreement could be made, separation seemed like the only solution. In the end, this was a good resolution. Why? Because two teams of missionaries were sent out rather than just one, proving once more that God can bring good out of anything. For instances in the Bible of separation based on doctrinal issues, see: Galatians 1:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 2 Timothy 2:18; 1 John 2:18; 2 John 1:10.


Read: Acts 16:1-40.
Key Points: 

{vss. 1-5} While Barnabas and John Mark sailed for Cyprus, Paul and Silas went through Syria and Cilicia to begin Paul’s second missionary journey. By land, they travelled to Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium for the purpose of strengthening the churches they had visitied on Paul’s first mission. And it is here that we are first introduced to Timothy, who is described as the son of a Jewish mother and Greek father. Though the Jerusalem council had decided that circumcision wasn’t necessary for salvation, Paul encouraged Timothy to be circumcised, not in order to be saved, but to open doors for effective ministry and witness among Jews. (For an example of Paul suggesting that a believer not be circumcised [Titus], see Galatians 2:3.) Are you starting to get the sense that Christianity is not at all about rules, but about furthering the cause of Christ? Paul said it best when he said: Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win over those under the law. To those outside the law I became like one outside the law—though I am not outside God’s law but within the law of Christ—to win over those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it (1 Corinthians 9:19-23, NASB).

Photo Credit: www.biblestudy.org

{vss. 6-10} Paul and Silas traveled throughout Phrygia and Galatia. I personally find it so comforting to know that God sometimes closed doors for this evangelistic apostle and his companion. Why? Because some of the most difficult and frustrating times in our earthly pilgrimage are when we see a need and want to do something about it, but for whatever reason, God doesn’t allow it–even when it seems like something that will further the cause of Christ. But, as this passage shows, when God closes one door, He opens another. In this case, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia (modern-day Greece), begging Paul to come help them. Notice that verse 10 uses the pronoun “we.” That is because the author of the book of Acts, Luke, has rejoined Paul and Silas. Paul and the others with him immediately made plans for the trip into Macedonia, fully persuaded that God had called them to preach the gospel there.
{vss. 11-15} From Troas, the crew sailed to the Greek island of Samothrace and on to Neapolis. Their first major stop was Phillipi, a Roman colony and the primary city of that district. Roman colonies were a piece of Rome transplanted abroad. Those who held citizenship in one of the colonies enjoyed the same rights as those who lived in Italy. Other colonies mentioned in Acts are Antioch Pisidia, Lystra, Troas, Ptolemais, and Corinth. On the Sabbath, the group located a place near the river to pray, and struck up conversation with a group of women gathered there. One woman, Lydia, who had a business in selling purple cloth from Thatira, was a God worshiper, and her heart was opened by God to the message of Paul. Her and her household were baptized, and she persuaded the group of men to stay in her home. (Lydia continued to support the early missionary efforts for many years, even when Paul was imprisoned.) We can learn several lessons from this account. First, we can worship and pray anywhere. Often public venues allow us opportunities to share God with others, as it did in this instance. Secondly, hospitality to others–especially fellow believers–is an important area of ministry (Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9; Matthew 25:34-46; Romans 12:13). Lydia’s generous offer allowed the missionaries to have a home base as they carried out their mission of sharing the gospel. Last of all, supporting mission efforts gives us a part in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. We don’t know if Lydia ever played a direct part in sharing the good news with others, but we do know that through her support of Paul and others, that she shared in their ministry.
{vss. 16-40} This is one of my all-time favorite stories in the book of Acts, mainly because it shows the power of prayer and praise to our Almighty God. After they were severely flogged, Paul and Silas were thrown in prison because they had healed a demon-possessed girl, who lost her gift of foreseeing the future, and cost her owners the money they made from her ability. In the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising, an act not only of worship, but as a witness to the other prisoners. A violent earthquake occurred, opened prison doors, and broke chains. When the guard awakened, he thought everyone had escaped, and drew his knife to commit suicide. Paul stopped him. Once the guard saw that everyone was still there, he asked Paul how to be saved. The answer is the same today. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” The jailer and his household immediately joined the family of faith, took care of the missionaries’ wounds, and fed them at their home. The next morning, the charges were miraculously dropped, but Paul wasn’t satisfied. He demanded that the officials give them a proper opportunity to speak, especially since they were Roman citizens. Those two words, Roman citizens, sparked fear among the town’s magistrates. They pleaded for forgiveness, escorted them from prison, and asked them to leave. After meeting with the brothers at Lydia’s house to encourage them, they left. I’m greatly encouraged by this powerful example set by Paul and Silas. When in trouble and unlawfully treated, respond with prayer and praise. Be people of integrity, even when given the opportunity to escape from dire circumstances. God has a reason for putting you where you are, and from adversity can bring about great good for you and others and glory for Himself. Lives can be eternally impacted by our example and testimony. Never miss an opportunity to speak truth, even if it is to those responsible for great hurt in your life.

Walk Through the WORD Acts 15-16 Wrap-Up

Prayerfully consider the following questions, and feel free to add your thoughts and answers in the comment section:

What has been your personal experience in receiving man-made rules and regulations from others? How did you respond?
What issues today cause division among believers? Are they doctrinal in nature, or over petty things? What is the solution?
How can we best live out and share with others the central truth that salvation comes only by God’s grace and our faith?
How does knowing there is Old Testament scripture to back up the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s plan impact you? How can we use this Old Testament scripture to bear witness to those who are skeptical of the Christian faith?
List some activities, that while not wrong according to scripture, might cause others to stumble.
What has been your personal experience of power struggles and division within in the church? How did you respond? In retrospect, could you have responded in a better way? How?
Church splits and division over minor problems (in other words, not doctrinal division) can often bring about great good. How? What personal experiences bear witness to this truth.
What are your thoughts on Paul encouraging Timothy to be circumcised, especially considering that the Jerusalem council had deemed it unnecessary?
What closed doors have you experienced in your walk with Christ? Did God open a completely different door? What were the results?
Do you think outdoor worship would make a great strategy to reach others for Christ? In what ways can you see you and your local body of believers carrying out this strategy?
Do you or someone you know have the gift of hospitality? How has that gift been used for the kingdom of Christ?
What are some ways to support various mission work and ministries around the world? (Some of my personal favorites are listed in this post .)
What personal testimony can you share about the power of prayer and praise to bring about powerful results?
Have you seen the truth that God can bring great good from adversity played out in your life? How?
What opportunities to share God with others have you failed to take advantage of?

All Posts in Our Study of Acts:

Acts 1-3
Acts 4-6
Acts 7-8
Acts 9-10
Acts 11-12
Acts 13-14
Acts 15-16

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