Acts 15: Highlights and Discussion

Highlights:

Acts 15:1-5: Conflict over the subject circumcision among the gentiles. Paul and Barnabas and some others went to Jerusalem about the question of circumcising gentiles who have become Christians.

Acts15:6-11: The Jerusalem council. The apostles and elders came together to discuss the matter of circumcision, there was much dispute and Peter rose up and spoke about his experience with Cornelius and his vision of unclean animals (Acts 10:1-11:18).

Acts 15:12-21: Paul and Barnabas shared the miracles the wonders among the gentiles. James said that they should not trouble the gentiles about circumcision but listed 4 things to tell them to abstain from.

Acts 15:22-29: What was shared by Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James pleased the apostles and elders so they wrote a letter to the brethren and sent the letter to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas and other chosen men.

Acts 15:30-35: Exhortation and strengthening of the church in Antioch.

Acts 15:36-41: Division over John Mark. Paul wanted to go back to the churches and visit them, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, but Paul insisted that they should not. There was sharp contention between them and Paul took Silas instead and Barnabas took John Mark.

Discussion:

Just like today, the early church had important theological issues to discuss. It is not a bad thing to disagree on something, what's more important is that we take these issues to council and by the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, we will find answers to address current church and/or theological matters in a Christian manner. Don't be afraid of conflict (healthy conflict), it is how we find answers to things that really matter to us as Christians.

The following video is from, In the Foosteps of Paul, Episode 6 based on Acts 15: