Welcome back. We are studying
the book of Acts. Jim, right
00:00:01.51\00:00:04.62
before the break we were looking
at the Jerusalem council. In the
00:00:04.65\00:00:10.73
early church there was
controversy, as we had studied,
00:00:10.76\00:00:13.99
that rose up over some doctrinal
issue, specifically over
00:00:14.03\00:00:17.92
circumcision. The one point
that we brought out first and
00:00:17.95\00:00:22.15
foremost is that the church
was committed to coming to an
00:00:22.19\00:00:26.31
understanding of what the Bible
taught and so they came together
00:00:26.35\00:00:29.59
There were some teachers who
had a different idea who came to
00:00:29.63\00:00:33.39
Antioch and Paul and Barnabas
and others went from Antioch to
00:00:33.42\00:00:37.33
Jerusalem and those who had a
disagreement came to Jerusalem
00:00:37.37\00:00:41.78
to headquarters in Jerusalem
and they began to discuss this
00:00:41.82\00:00:46.32
matter. One of the things that
we were talking about before the
00:00:46.36\00:00:51.95
break was how the issue over
circumcision... Circumcision had
00:00:51.98\00:00:57.32
become a ticket, you kind
of likened that to, a ticket to
00:00:57.35\00:01:02.16
salvation, a ticket to approval
or acceptance with God, which
00:01:02.20\00:01:06.07
is interesting because that's
not what circumcision was about.
00:01:06.11\00:01:09.95
No, it was a sign of faith.
00:01:09.98\00:01:11.01
Circumcision had been instituted
with Abraham. Before he was ever
00:01:11.04\00:01:14.65
circumcised he believe God, the
Bible says, and it was accounted
00:01:14.69\00:01:18.33
for him as righteousness.
Then he received the sign of
00:01:18.36\00:01:21.35
circumcision, Paul says in
Romans 4, that was to testify
00:01:21.38\00:01:26.28
to the faith which he already
had. That was not really the
00:01:26.31\00:01:30.09
understanding of these Pharisees
who believed. Now what's
00:01:30.13\00:01:35.02
interesting is, if I take what
I just said from Romans 4, I'm
00:01:35.06\00:01:38.73
sure that was the Pharisees who
believed position. Hey, we're
00:01:38.77\00:01:42.69
not saying that they have to be
circumcised first, but if they
00:01:42.73\00:01:46.62
believe they have to be
circumcised just like Abraham
00:01:46.65\00:01:51.04
who believed and he was
circumcised. The difference is
00:01:51.07\00:01:55.39
that in Abraham's case, he
understood that circumcision was
00:01:55.42\00:02:00.28
merely a sign of his lack of
confidence in himself, in the
00:02:00.32\00:02:04.87
flesh, and his faith in God.
But what had happened here is
00:02:04.90\00:02:09.17
regardless when the rite took
place by the time we come into
00:02:09.21\00:02:13.07
the New Testament church the
rite of circumcision had been
00:02:13.10\00:02:16.89
perverted to now be an evidence.
It had turned from a evidence of
00:02:16.93\00:02:25.22
no confidence in the flesh to
being a reason for confidence.
00:02:25.26\00:02:30.47
And, of course, that is what is
being addressed here. As Peter
00:02:30.51\00:02:35.84
shares in verse 10, this a
yoke which the disciples or our
00:02:35.88\00:02:40.57
fathers weren't able to bear.
In other words, when you put
00:02:40.60\00:02:45.23
confidence in the flesh, we've
talked about this before. God is
00:02:45.26\00:02:49.74
spiritual, God's law is
spiritual. Unaided by the Holy
00:02:49.78\00:02:54.48
Spirit, by conversion, human
beings can't come into harmony
00:02:54.52\00:02:58.98
with the purposes of God and
the will of God. So to require a
00:02:59.02\00:03:03.45
fallen human being to
meet the character of God as a
00:03:03.48\00:03:10.39
requirement for our acceptance
with him is impossible. It's a
00:03:10.43\00:03:13.40
yoke that we can't bear.
That's exactly right. You know,
00:03:13.43\00:03:16.50
it makes me think though about
that age-old argument about
00:03:16.53\00:03:20.19
whether or not because of
faith the law is even necessary.
00:03:20.22\00:03:24.16
Because we can't be justified
by the law then we don't need to
00:03:24.19\00:03:27.57
keep it. But that's not what the
Apostle Paul says. In Romans 3
00:03:27.61\00:03:30.77
he makes that really clear.
He says in verse 31, Do we make
00:03:30.81\00:03:34.32
void the law through faith. On
the contrary, it's through faith
00:03:34.35\00:03:38.74
that we establish the law.
Because faith is what brings the
00:03:38.77\00:03:42.59
Spirit of God into the life and
that changes the heart and the
00:03:42.62\00:03:46.37
attitude and makes it submissive
to the will of God and then we
00:03:46.41\00:03:50.07
are brought into harmony with
God. These Pharisees apparently
00:03:50.10\00:03:53.73
were bypassing that and
saying, no, circumcision. But if
00:03:53.76\00:03:57.31
circumcision is given that type
of confidence then it takes away
00:03:57.34\00:04:01.54
the need for faith and by taking
away the need for faith it takes
00:04:01.57\00:04:05.73
away the new birth in the
life and that just could not be.
00:04:05.77\00:04:09.69
And it becomes formalism, in
reality legalism instead of true
00:04:09.72\00:04:13.61
Christianity. So this
was something that obviously
00:04:13.65\00:04:16.70
Paul was contending strongly
for. The other apostles saw the
00:04:16.73\00:04:19.64
light in it. Peter gets up and
he gives his testimony. Paul and
00:04:19.67\00:04:22.81
Barnabas give their testimonies.
Right before the break we looked
00:04:22.85\00:04:25.93
at how James, who seems to be
presiding, him being the brother
00:04:25.97\00:04:29.38
of Christ, seems to be presiding
over the council here, which is
00:04:29.42\00:04:34.25
an interesting point for some
churches in their understanding
00:04:34.29\00:04:38.71
of history say that Peter was
the leader of the church because
00:04:38.75\00:04:42.33
he was so prominent. But that's
not what we find in scripture.
00:04:42.36\00:04:45.88
Peter is not the leader here.
James is the leader and what's
00:04:45.91\00:04:48.51
going to happen is James is
going to make a decision that
00:04:48.54\00:04:51.22
Peter and the others including
Paul are going to submit to.
00:04:51.25\00:04:55.05
So James quotes the scripture,
a portion of it, as a way of
00:04:55.08\00:04:58.30
testing what's being presented
and saying this is in harmony
00:04:58.33\00:05:02.30
with the word of God and
he's about to render a decision.
00:05:02.33\00:05:05.99
That's right. If we look
at verse 18, Mark, it's very
00:05:06.03\00:05:09.61
interesting. It says, Known
to God from eternity are all his
00:05:09.65\00:05:12.70
works. And he's revealing, as he
did in Ephesians also, that this
00:05:12.73\00:05:17.69
mystery that has been hidden
from the world for ages is now
00:05:17.73\00:05:21.75
being revealed and this mystery
is that God always intended
00:05:21.79\00:05:25.74
there to be one united body, Jew
and Gentile. So he's saying, God
00:05:25.78\00:05:30.13
has known this from all eternity
and then in verse 19 he says,
00:05:30.16\00:05:33.70
Therefore, I judge. This is
what you were referring to Mark.
00:05:33.74\00:05:37.24
James says, I decide. Now
certainly he wasn't making an
00:05:37.28\00:05:40.01
authoritarian decree. This had
been a joint decision and they
00:05:40.04\00:05:43.69
had come to a sort of consensus.
00:05:43.72\00:05:45.62
But they came to him. There was
established leadership that they
00:05:45.65\00:05:49.04
understood. There
was an organization.
00:05:49.08\00:05:50.70
That's right, that's right. So
he says, Therefore, I judge that
00:05:50.73\00:05:53.78
we should not trouble those
from among the Gentiles who are
00:05:53.81\00:05:56.86
turning to God. So the sense of
troubling them would be putting
00:05:56.89\00:06:00.61
obstacles in their way that are
unnecessary and that's how they
00:06:00.65\00:06:04.34
viewed circumcision at this
point because God had opened
00:06:04.37\00:06:09.26
the door and the genealogy
itself, or the ethnic sign of
00:06:09.30\00:06:14.12
Judaism was not necessary. So
circumcision is not in the list
00:06:14.15\00:06:18.86
of what is required here of the
Gentiles. But it specifically
00:06:18.90\00:06:23.57
says Gentiles who are
turning to God which in the New
00:06:23.60\00:06:26.33
Testament it uses that
word a few times to talk about
00:06:26.36\00:06:29.02
conversion. They're turning from
an old way of life to a new way
00:06:29.05\00:06:32.08
of life. And since they're
turning from an old way of life
00:06:32.11\00:06:35.63
this list actually references
things that were a part of their
00:06:35.67\00:06:39.48
old way of life. It said they
are turning to God and then in
00:06:39.52\00:06:42.92
verse 20 it says, But that
we write to them to abstain from
00:06:42.95\00:06:46.84
things polluted to idols, from
sexual immorality, from things
00:06:46.87\00:06:50.51
strangled and from blood
for Moses is had throughout many
00:06:50.54\00:06:54.11
generations those who preach him
in every city being read in the
00:06:54.15\00:06:57.80
synagogues every Sabbath.
Now let's just look at this list
00:06:57.84\00:07:01.05
real briefly. First of all it's
interesting that this list just
00:07:01.09\00:07:06.58
about everything, and you
know you might look at that a
00:07:06.61\00:07:10.39
little bit differently, but the
things strangled might not be
00:07:10.43\00:07:14.29
specifically delineated but
in Leviticus 17 and 18 there are
00:07:14.32\00:07:18.14
regulations given to both Jew
and Gentile that seem to match
00:07:18.18\00:07:22.57
these particular requirements
that are given, talking about
00:07:22.60\00:07:27.46
not eating animals that
are strangled or die on their
00:07:27.50\00:07:31.22
own or that sort of thing.
It doesn't mention strangled but
00:07:31.26\00:07:34.92
it does specifically mention not
eating animals with the blood in
00:07:34.95\00:07:39.17
them and that actually has been
a distinction all the way back
00:07:39.21\00:07:43.82
to the book of Genesis. You go
back to Genesis chapter 9 and in
00:07:43.86\00:07:48.67
verse 4 it says but you shall
not eat flesh with its life,
00:07:48.71\00:07:53.64
that is, its blood. So even when
God allowed the eating of the
00:07:53.68\00:07:58.36
animals there in Genesis, he
said not the blood. There was a
00:07:58.39\00:08:03.19
sacredness to the blood and they
held it very sacred and because
00:08:03.22\00:08:07.98
of that we see that the Gentiles
with their pagan gods they
00:08:08.01\00:08:12.69
didn't hold it sacred. They
would sometimes mix blood in
00:08:12.72\00:08:17.32
with their drinks, their drink
offerings and things like that.
00:08:17.36\00:08:20.32
They had no problem eating
things that had blood in them.
00:08:20.35\00:08:23.28
There are a number of areas...
00:08:23.31\00:08:25.41
But all of these things, Jim,
had a place in the heathen rite.
00:08:25.44\00:08:28.82
That's exactly right, that's
exactly right and I think that's
00:08:28.86\00:08:32.25
really the point here. Every one
of these things were connected
00:08:32.28\00:08:35.64
to what they were associated
with already in their pagan
00:08:35.67\00:08:38.76
worship and, therefore, it
was very important that the
00:08:38.80\00:08:41.82
disciples clarified. They were
thankful, I'm sure, that rites
00:08:41.85\00:08:45.81
such as circumcision that were
unnecessary were not included
00:08:45.85\00:08:49.77
to be as obstacles. But it
wasn't a small sacrifice for
00:08:49.80\00:08:54.58
them to do these things. It
says things polluted by idols.
00:08:54.62\00:08:58.58
Well most of the meat in
the meat market and that sort of
00:08:58.61\00:09:02.72
thing came from offerings to
idols and you couldn't tell when
00:09:02.75\00:09:06.27
it was and when it wasn't,
so you would have to restrain
00:09:06.30\00:09:09.89
sometimes and later there's
actually a concern about this in
00:09:09.93\00:09:14.66
Corinth and they asked Paul
about it and Paul says well okay
00:09:14.69\00:09:18.55
an idol is nothing in the world
so it would be permissible to
00:09:18.59\00:09:22.02
eat meat that was sacrificed
to idols but he affirmed this
00:09:22.06\00:09:25.14
decision by saying but so that
you're not a stumbling block to
00:09:25.18\00:09:28.84
someone else. So they don't
get drawn into that idolatry you
00:09:28.88\00:09:32.50
want to make sure
that you prevent that.
00:09:32.54\00:09:33.88
Well you mentioned the market
place. But think about their
00:09:33.91\00:09:35.94
friends and family members.
That's right if you have a
00:09:35.97\00:09:37.97
festive feast. That's
exactly right. No question.
00:09:38.00\00:09:40.37
It certainly was a
sacrifice for them to make.
00:09:40.40\00:09:42.70
You know, something that dawns
on me here is this was not a
00:09:42.73\00:09:46.07
comprehensive list. Some people
look at this list and say well
00:09:46.10\00:09:49.15
see it doesn't say anything
in here for instance about the
00:09:49.19\00:09:52.17
Sabbath, so God didn't require
the Gentiles to keep the Sabbath
00:09:52.20\00:09:55.47
Well it doesn't say anything
in here about murder either or
00:09:55.51\00:09:59.36
lying. No this was not intended
to be a comprehensive list but
00:09:59.40\00:10:02.98
to deal with those issues that
were specific to those Gentiles
00:10:03.01\00:10:06.56
and their worship. And
the church was pleased with
00:10:06.59\00:10:09.29
the decision. Verse 22 says,
It pleased the apostles and the
00:10:09.32\00:10:12.78
elders with the whole church
to send chosen men of their own
00:10:12.82\00:10:16.16
company to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas, namely Judas who was
00:10:16.20\00:10:19.66
also names Barsabas and Silas,
leading men among the brethren
00:10:19.70\00:10:22.80
and they wrote a letter, etc.
And it tells that they sent this
00:10:22.83\00:10:26.33
letter throughout the churches.
They communicated this and this
00:10:26.37\00:10:30.48
was a decision that was made in
Jerusalem that was expected now
00:10:30.51\00:10:34.59
to be abided by all the
churches in the area and you've
00:10:34.63\00:10:38.36
got to keep this in mind that
if indeed they followed through
00:10:38.40\00:10:41.76
with that, it would bring the
church to unity. Now you're not
00:10:41.79\00:10:45.45
going to have your reformed
church of Antioch and your new
00:10:45.49\00:10:49.12
church of Jesus Christ
of Iconium. You've got the
00:10:49.15\00:10:54.80
Christian church
unified throughout.
00:10:54.84\00:10:57.13
That's right. As we go through
the book of Acts we see them
00:10:57.17\00:11:00.56
continually sharing the news
of this decision with all the
00:11:00.60\00:11:04.07
churches. Now you get to verse
30 and it says that they were
00:11:04.10\00:11:07.54
sent off and they came
to Antioch and when they had
00:11:07.58\00:11:09.99
gathered the multitude together
they delivered the letter. When
00:11:10.02\00:11:13.30
they had read it they rejoiced
over its encouragement. Then it
00:11:13.33\00:11:16.57
says, Now Judas and Silas
themselves being prophets also
00:11:16.61\00:11:19.64
exhorted and strengthened
the brethren with many words and
00:11:19.67\00:11:22.63
after they had stayed there for
a time they were sent back with
00:11:22.66\00:11:25.71
greetings from the brethren to
the apostles. However, it seemed
00:11:25.75\00:11:28.77
good to Silas to remain
there and Paul and Barnabas also
00:11:28.80\00:11:31.28
remained in Antioch and they
were preaching and teaching.
00:11:31.32\00:11:33.73
So again we see Paul. He likes
spending time in Antioch. It was
00:11:33.77\00:11:38.85
home base for him and so they
went ahead and delivered this
00:11:38.88\00:11:42.82
letter to Antioch and spent some
time there. It was encouraging
00:11:42.86\00:11:46.77
to them that these obstacles
were not in the way and he
00:11:46.80\00:11:50.10
remained there for a period.
00:11:50.13\00:11:51.37
That's right, but not forever.
00:11:51.40\00:11:52.56
That's right. Because
we pick up in verse 36
00:11:52.60\00:11:55.63
and they say, Then after some
days Paul said to Barnabas, Let
00:11:55.66\00:11:59.11
us now go back and visit
our brethren in every city where
00:11:59.14\00:12:02.52
we've preached the word of the
Lord and see how they are doing.
00:12:02.55\00:12:05.58
A lot could be said there
about the discipleship factor.
00:12:05.62\00:12:08.66
In verse 37 it says, Now
Barnabas was determined to take
00:12:08.70\00:12:11.68
with them John called Mark but
Paul insisted that they should
00:12:11.71\00:12:14.64
not take with them the one
who had departed from them in
00:12:14.68\00:12:18.37
Pamphylia and had not gone
with them to the work. Then the
00:12:18.40\00:12:21.88
contention became so sharp that
they parted from one another.
00:12:21.91\00:12:25.28
So Barnabas took Mark and sailed
to Cypress. Paul chose Silas
00:12:25.31\00:12:28.27
and departed being commended by
the brethren in the grace of God
00:12:28.31\00:12:30.74
and he went to Syria and Cilicia
strengthening the churches.
00:12:30.78\00:12:33.59
Now we mentioned this when Mark
departed. It didn't say a lot
00:12:33.63\00:12:37.53
then in Acts chapter 13, but
evidently Mark was intimidated
00:12:37.57\00:12:41.62
by some of the trials and he
wavered a little bit. But it's
00:12:41.66\00:12:45.35
good to know that Barnabas saw
confidence in Mark. Now Mark was
00:12:45.39\00:12:49.16
his nephew, but beyond that the
Bible tells us later that the
00:12:49.20\00:12:52.94
Apostle Paul saw Mark
as a value to his ministry.
00:12:52.98\00:12:55.19
He mentions him in II Timothy
chapter 4:11 talks about Paul
00:12:55.22\00:12:58.79
bringing Mark with him because
he found him as a value to his
00:12:58.82\00:13:02.68
ministry. You know sometimes we
may feel in that same place that
00:13:02.71\00:13:06.53
John Mark was. Maybe we quail
at some of the intimidating
00:13:06.57\00:13:10.11
factors of sharing our faith and
what have you, but you know the
00:13:10.14\00:13:13.44
Lord sees through those things
and he sees the potential in us
00:13:13.47\00:13:16.73
just like Barnabas and
ultimately the Lord saw the
00:13:16.77\00:13:19.52
potential in John Mark. He ended
up writing one of the gospels.
00:13:19.55\00:13:23.03
God has a plan for each one of
us and by his grace let's take
00:13:23.07\00:13:26.49
hold of him and be a part of
that plan. I hope you join us
00:13:26.53\00:13:29.92
next time.
00:13:29.95\00:13:30.98