Another Principle from Acts: Acts 15:1-18

At the beginning of our study in the book of Acts, we were cautioned not to base doctrine on the stories recounted in Acts. However, there are several examples of principles that we should follow. Today I will look at one of those principles. Since it’s based pretty much on the whole story told in Acts 15, I will try to give you an overview of the scene.

It starts with Paul and Barnabas in Antioch (their home church). Things are going fine; people are coming to Christ in response to the gospel message, disciples are being made through the teachings of the apostles, and elders are being appointed into places of leadership of the local church. Many Gentiles are involved in all stages of the ministry.

Then some who had been Pharisees but are now believers came to Antioch and begun teaching the brethren (especially the Gentile believers) the following: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (verse 1). Paul and Barnabas did not agree and were debating with these Jewish believers. They each had their own point of view and no decision was made in Antioch. So the elders and apostles of Antioch decided the issue should be addressed by the church leaders in Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas, along with other believers, some of the Gentiles included, were sent to Jerusalem. Barnabas and Paul shared with the leaders and reported all that God had done with them (verse 4). The elders and apostles heard from both sides, for the sect of the Pharisee believers had also come to Jerusalem to present their side of things. So the issue was before the council in Jerusalem.

The procedure for coming to a decision is the principle here. First, they heard all sides of the issue and presented witnesses/testimony of what the experience had involved. Then Peter, an elder, reminded them of how God had worked through him in the situation with Cornelius, a Roman soldier, that had happened several years before. He was sharing another example where God had given the Holy Spirit to uncircumcised, non-Law abiding Gentiles. As a result, the multitudes listening fell silent and let Barnabas and Paul relate the signs and wonders God had done (verse 12).

Finally, James (a leader in the Jerusalem church) stood up and and said, “Simeon [Paul] has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,” (verses 14-15). Then James quoted Amos the Prophet basically saying that the Jewish people would be restored and that God would restore the temple, “In order that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name.” (verses 16 -17). James says that the Gentiles were to be included all along according to the Prophets.

The key to this procedure of decision making in the early church was that they sought out Scripture to confirm every experience. Barnes (a Biblical scholar) said that everything  should always [be] compared to the truth of Scripture. Everything must be in accordance with the Bible. If not, then the ideas or experiences should be deemed false and should be vehemently opposed (notes, p. 14). It doesn’t matter if a plan or idea sounds good or not. What matters is if it is accordance with Scripture or not. This takes some effort to honestly seek the Scriptures and to be sure we are not taking concepts or principles out of context of the whole of the Bible. I think we need to do that searching more often and in many areas of our lives.