Acts 15:1-4 – Certain 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.
“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.” These believers, with the doctrine that defames the work of Jesus genuinely believed what they were teaching. They were sincere, but they were sincerely wrong. Again, it is by faith alone that we are saved (Romans 3:28, Galatians 2:16). Only the unknowing, the cults and the heretics preach that we must be saved by faith but then be kept in the favor of God by works. Family, let’s not let people who are sincere and charismatic, by the force of their speech, ever convince us that we are saved or kept by works. Let us never insult the Lord in such a way. Let us hold fast to the true doctrine of “faith alone.”
These people were convinced that they were right in their position that the gentile men must be circumcised to truly have entrance into God’s family, and they would not back down. They truly believed that they had the backing of the church leaders in Jerusalem. So, after discussion and arguing (“sharp dispute and debate”) what was the best way to resolve the issue? It certainly was not to keep arguing and dragging the unity of the saints through the mud. Since the people who came claimed the weight of the Jerusalem leaders was behind them, then Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to bring this question front and center. In Matthew 18:15-17 Jesus tells us how to settle a disagreement, or a wrong. The next to last step is to take it to the church. So, off to the acknowledged leaders of the church they went.
“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.” They left Syrian Antioch and travelled down through Phoenicia and Samaria. They did not go by ship, which would have been much quicker. Instead they went by land which was about a three hundred mile journey. As they travelled they let all the believers that they encountered know how the Gentiles in Galatia and Cyprus had come to the Lord. It was a great encouragement to the believers that the Gospel was being spread and Jesus was being glorified. It is still the same to us. Whether it is hearing that a relative, friend, neighbor or someone on another continent has come to the Lord, we rejoice for those Brothers and Sisters and for the Lord Jesus. We like to hear about people coming to salvation. We are encouraged and uplifted every time.
Some think that Paul and Barnabas came by land to spread the news of the Gentiles receiving Jesus so by doing that, they were building support for their ministry, and their position. Perhaps they would carry more weight in Jerusalem if people knew how God was working through them and giving them their support. Were they trying to build a wave a support? Of course, it doesn’t say that, but some commentators believe it may have been an ulterior motive.
“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.” Certainly by the time Paul and Barnabas arrived in Jerusalem the leaders knew that they were coming and likely knew of the great work God had been doing through them. We read that Paul and Barnabas did not boast as it they had done something, instead they gave full credit to God for all the holy work done through them. We likewise desire not to usurp God’s glory and praise, but to make sure that He, and only He, gets all the praise and glory. We thank God for our salvation knowing that He was the cause, the deliverer and is the sustainer of it. We unite with our Brothers and Sisters who lived two millennia ago in praising God for everyone who comes to Jesus. We are thankful that God changed our path and we are now an eternal path of communion with God because Jesus made the way. We strive to walk in the holiness and love of the Lord. Though we are daily transformed, we will only be perfected on the other side of the death of our earthly bodies. There we will be as He is (whole and complete) and our joy complete. “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) Of all people we have the most reason for joy! Jesus, and only He, has saved us, praise God! Yes, yes, praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.