Acts 15—The First Church Council
Icebreaker: Other than when you came to Christ, can you think of a time when you learned something that dramatically changed your outlook on life?
History Facts:
By now, the Gentile believers were multiplying much faster than the Jewish believers. Antioch was rapidly becoming a center focus of growth.
The Council at Jerusalem
Acts 15
1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
1. What was the issue dividing the church at this time? Why was this a fundamental problem? (v.1,11) As a believer, have you ever struggled with the issue that we are saved by grace and not of works? (Eph. 2:8,9) What did you do to resolve the issue?
2. Who were among the first leaders to deal with the problem? Why?
3. As Paul and Barnabas travelled, how did they garner support?
4. How do we know the church leadership included Paul and Barnabus? (verse 4 now and later verse 12)
5. How do we know the church leadership was involved in resolving this issue?
6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
6. Peter refers to “some time ago” in verse seven. Can you remember a past time in Acts where Peter was involved with Gentiles? How did that time prepare Peter for this time?
7. Peter, in defense of the viewpoint of Paul and Barnabus, asks a question. What does this question (v.10) show about Peter’s feeling about the law?
8. In any event, Peter comes to a proclamation that is important for the church today. What was it?
9. How do you respond when you hear false beliefs?
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’ 18 things known from long ago.
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
10. James quotes in Acts 15:16-18 from Amos 9. What does this passage say about Gentiles?
11. What is James’ conclusion? Why do you think he includes a list of things for Gentiles to avoid? (Christian Liberty-1 Corinthians 10:23-33)
12. Are both James and Peter, representing the leaders of the church, in agreement? Compare their answers in verses 11 and 19.
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. [34] [d] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
13. What was the reason for sending others with Paul and Barnabas?
14. What do you notice about the Antioch meeting of the church?
15. What happened to Judas and Silas after their time with Antioch was up? How might Judas and Silas be thought of as short-term missionaries? Have you ever been a short-term missionary? What was good about your experience?
Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
16. Why did Paul refuse to take John Mark? What happened next?
17. How were the churches strengthened by this disagreement?
18. Can you think of a time when your disagreements became part of God’s good plan? (Romans 8:28)
Chapter Summary
The church was stronger because of the Jerusalem Council’s decision to clarify the doctrine of Grace to avoid the slavery of the law. The church was also made stronger because there were now two missionary teams going out and reaching the Gentiles.