"THE BOOK OF ACTS" Conflict Over Circumcision (15:1-35) INTRODUCTION 1. During his first missionary journey, Paul saw that God "opened a door of faith to the Gentiles" - Ac 14:27 a. The conversion of Sergius Paulus - Ac 13:6-12 b. The conversion of many Gentiles in Antioch of Pisidia - Ac 13:42-49 c. The conversion of Greeks in Iconium - Ac 14:1 2. It wasn't long before the question of Gentiles in the church became an issue... a. Should the Gentiles be accepted without first converting to Judaism? b. Should they be required to be circumcised, and keep the Law of Moses? [After a "long time" in Antioch of Syria, Paul and the church were faced with a crisis regarding the issue of the Gentiles...] I. THE CONFLICT A. SOME CAME FROM JUDEA... 1. Teaching that Gentiles could not be saved without circumcision - Ac 15:1 2. With whom Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed - Ac 15:2 3. This conflict might have involved Peter - Ga 2:11-16 (some think this was during Ac 15:1-2; others think it was later) B. PAUL AND BARNABAS SENT TO JERUSALEM... 1. Accompanied by "certain others" (such as Titus) - Ac 15:2; Ga 2:1 2. To talk to the apostles and elders, which Paul did "by revelation" - Ac 15:2; Ga 2:2 3. On the way, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria - Ac 15:3 a. Describing the conversion of the Gentiles b. Causing great joy among the brethren [Since the men causing disturbance came from Judea, Paul and his companions went to Jerusalem, to locate the actual origin of this problem. This led to...] II. THE CONFERENCE A. PRELIMINARY MEETINGS... 1. Formal reception by the church a. Paul's party was received by the church, the apostles, and the elders - Ac 15:4 b. To whom Paul reported all that God had done with them - Ac 15:4; cf. Ac 14:27 c. Some of the sect of the Pharisees objected - Ac 15:5 1) Likely Jewish Christians who had been Pharisees 2) Demanding Gentiles be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses 2. Private meeting with some who were "of reputation" a. In which Paul explained the gospel which he preached - Ga 2:1-2 b. Where some false brethren tried to compel Titus (a Gentile) to be circumcised, which Paul refused - Ga 2:3-6 c. James, Peter, and John commended Paul for his work among the Gentiles - Ga 2:7-10 1) Extending to him the right hand of fellowship 2) Asking only that he remember the poor (something he was careful do on his remaining missionary journeys) B. PUBLIC MEETING... 1. The speech of Peter - Ac 15:6-11 a. How God selected him to be the first to preach to the Gentiles - cf. Ac 10:1-43 b. How God bore witness to their acceptability by giving them the Spirit - cf. Ac 10:44-48; 11:15-18 c. That God purified them through faith, just as He did the Jews d. That they should not test God, by placing a burden on the Gentiles which they themselves could not bear e. That God will save the Jews in the same way, through the grace of the Lord Jesus - cf. Ac 2:38 (Jews) with Ac 10:48 (Gentiles) 2. The testimony of Paul and Barnabas - Ac 15:12 a. How God did many miracles and wonders through them among the Gentiles b. Which the multitude listened to quietly 3. The counsel of James - Ac 15:13-21 a. Reminding them of what Simon (Peter) had just said b. Reminding them of the Old Testament prophecy of Amos - Am 9:11-12 c. Offering his judgment: 1) Not to trouble the Gentiles who were turning to God 2) But write to them, asking them to abstain from: a) Things polluted by idols (i.e., meats offered to idols) b) Sexual immorality c) Things strangled d) Blood d. This would go a long way in keeping peace between Jewish and Gentile converts [With the testimony of Paul and Barnabas, Peter, and James, supported by God's approval through miraculous signs and prophetic scriptures, the conflict came to a quick resolution (for the time being)...] III. THE CONCLUSION A. DELEGATION AND LETTER... 1. The apostles, elders, and the whole church agree to send a delegation - Ac 15:22 2. Judas and Silas, selected to accompany Paul and Barnabas along with the letter - Ac 15:22 3. A copy of this letter is preserved by Luke - Ac 15:23-29 4. Note: those who caused the trouble are identified as having done so without any authority from those in Jerusalem - Ac 15:24 B. RETURN AND RECEPTION... 1. Paul and the delegation return to Antioch, and deliver the letter - Ac 15:30 2. The multitude rejoice over its encouragement - Ac 15:31 3. Judas and Silas exhort the brethren with many words - Ac 15:32-34 a. Judas eventually returned to the apostles in Jerusalem b. Silas stayed in Antioch, later to join Paul on his travels - cf. Ac 15:40 4. Paul and Barnabas remain in Antioch, teaching and preaching - Ac 15:35 CONCLUSION 1. The conflict over circumcision and the Law illustrates the challenges faced by the early church... a. The challenge of transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant b. The challenge of accepting into the church those who were considered "unclean" 2. But the challenges were overcome, in large part due to the apostle Paul... a. A Hebrew of the Hebrews, but also an apostle to the Gentiles b. Whom God used to help bridge Jew and Gentile together To fulfill what Jesus died to accomplish on the cross, to bring peace between Jew and Gentile, making one new body (Ep 2:11-16). This ought to remind us who are Gentiles how blessed we are to be able to come into the fellowship with God and His people. Have we let Jesus add us to His one new body, the church...? - cf. Ac 2:41,47Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012
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