Introduction

In the introduction to this study, there was a chart that showed a big tree. At the top of the trunk there were a few small branches that began to grow, but then they all merged together in a giant clot. This week we examine the clot. A great controversy broke out in the city of Antioch. The Jewish Christians were having a very difficult time accepting the fact that uncircumcised Gentiles were being welcomed into the family of God with no regard for the Law of Moses. These “concerned citizens” took matters into their own hands and began teaching the Antiochians that they must be circumcised in order to be “truly saved.” This controversy forced, what we call, the first church council. The council was the clot. The decision of this council allowed absolute freedom for the church to spread open its branches for the whole world to see.

In the wake of this liberation, Paul sets out on his second missionary journey and discovers that God has plans for him that were not at all part of Paul’s original agenda. Being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, Paul ventures north and crosses over into Alexander the Great’s old romping ground: Macedonia. This week and next we will discover the great work that God has in store for Paul among the Greeks.

Outline

Monday: Concerning Conflict

Tuesday: Leaving Barnabus, Finding Timothy

Wednesday: Divine Detours

Thursday: Another Spiritual Battle

Friday: A True Miracle

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Acts 15:1-35

What was the main issue that caused the leaders to gather in Jerusalem?

Briefly summarize the two sides of the debate.

What was Peter’s argument?

What was Paul and Barnabus’ argument?

What was James conclusion?

Concerning Conflict

Here are two observations from today’s reading:

1. People like to squabble. From its inception, the church has been fraught with controversy. In Acts 15 we see the first real controversy within the church. For centuries the Jews had believed that God would save the world through the Jewish nation. In their interpretation of God’s promise of blessing to the nations, all nations would convert to Judaism, be circumcised, and follow the Levitical code of Moses’ Law. Then, after everyone looked exactly the same, the world would be at peace. So, naturally, the Pharisees in Jerusalem who accepted the fact that the resurrected Jesus of Nazareth was, indeed, the long awaited Messiah, assumed that the path to knowing the Messiah was through the gateway of Judaism. Please forgive the caricature on the chart which paints these “Judaizers” as evil “snippers” who are villainous in nature. (although Paul may have felt that way at times) The truth is that they were probably well meaning Christ-followers who had not yet fully realized the vastness of God’s Grace and were, understandably, operating under their worldview of origin.

In our churches today we see the same things happening. Each of us has been raised in some type of theological environment. Whether we were raised as a child in this environment, or have had our imprinting conversion experience in an environment, that theological perspective will always feel like home to us. It will feel the most right and natural. Unfortunately, just like in marriage, when Christ-followers come together in fellowship, but are coming from different “home-bases” of theological perspective, it can lead to conflict. Sometimes, as we see in Antioch, the dispute can become intense and cause sharp division among the church.

1. The rule is love and unity in the name of Jesus. The lesson of Acts 15 can be found in the decision that the “council” came to after hearing all the evidence. Peter said, “Look, Cornelius was unclean, but the Spirit came on him.” Paul and Barnabus were witnesses to the signs and wonders that God had done among the Gentiles. It is obvious that God’s plan is bigger than any one group’s theological preference and perspective. God is at work in the world, in spite of our narrow-mindedness, rigidity, legalistic tendencies, and ethnocentricity. Our job is to be open to it, observe what the Spirit of God is actually doing, and join him there.

At first glance, the letter to Antioch may appear to run counter to the openness of the decision that the council concluded, in that it gives a set of rules for the church to follow. Yet, with proper inspection, we can see that the letter actually tells us the heart of the message.

The rules’ specifics and their rationale (Acts 15:21) show they are given to promote table fellowship between uncircumcised Gentile converts and Jewish Christians who observe the dietary laws. There is no surrender here of the gospel freedom alluded to in verse 19. Rather, that freedom is to be used in love to serve Jewish Christian brothers and sisters, but not beyond the bounds of Scripture (Gal 5:13). Sexual immorality, as an ethical matter, not having to do with ritual purity, may seem out of place. But given that one of the Jews’ ongoing concerns was “low ethical and moral standards among Gentiles” (Scott 1992:14), it is appropriate in this list to represent the category of moral standards.

James’s proposal, then, teaches us three things about life together in a culturally diverse church. We must say no to any form of cultural imperialism that demands others’ conformity to our cultural standards before we will accept them and their spiritual experience. We must say yes to mutual respect for our differences. And we must live out that respect even to the extent of using our freedom to forgo what is permissible in other circumstances.

In a day when transportation and urbanization make it easier to stay apart than face the challenge of living together as a multicultural body of believers, the church has yet to model consistently what James calls for. But even our separate culturally homogeneous fellowships may face challenges of gender, music and generation gaps. We need to take Acts 15 to heart.

Are there any areas of theology or doctrinal distinctives that you find to be inhibiting your fellowship in your church? Spend some time asking God to expose to you where you may be displaying some legalism or drawing some unnecessary distinctions. On the other hand. If you feel a sense of freedom to do certain things because of Grace and freedom in Christ, but you know that those things will become a stumbling block to someone else, ask God to show you how you could be more considerate to your brother or sister and not do those things out of love for them. Let’s not let secondary issues inhibit the unity of the body and the overflow of God’s Kingdom!

(If this topic strikes a chord with you, refer to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians

Just for Kids

Has your family ever gotten into an argument over something in which two people disagreed about how something should be done? What was it? How did you handle it?

In the story today the Christians in Jerusalem and Antioch got in a big fight about whether Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians should have to follow Moses’ law or not. In the story we see a good model for how to handle arguments.

1. Don’t yell, talk calmly.
2. Listen to everyone’s side of the story before you make decisions.
3. Come to a compromise where everybody can win.

In this story the Jewish Christians didn’t “win” the argument, but, out of love for them, the Gentiles agreed that they would not eat certain kind of foods so that they would actually be able to eat at the same dinner table without anybody getting upset.

The point is that we should always place the other person higher than ourselves and try to find a way to demonstrate love them, even when we are arguing.

Larkin, W. J., Briscoe, D. S., & Robinson, H. W. (1995). Vol. 5: Acts. The IVP New Testament commentary series (Ac 15:13 ). Downers, Ill. , USA : InterVarsity Press.

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Tuesday

Acts 15:36-16:5

What issue came between Paul and Barnabus? What were your reactions when you first read this? Why?

What is Timothy’s ethnic background?

What does Paul do to Timothy? Why?

In light of the decisions made in Jerusalem in chapter 15, why do you suppose Paul did this to Timothy?

Leaving Barnabus, Finding Timothy

Leaving Barnabus

There is a positive side and a negative side to this story. The negative side is obvious. It is always discouraging when people disagree and split company. Barnabus and Paul had been partners for a long time. Barnabus was Paul’s first friend. When Paul first came to Jesus, and no one would accept his conversion as authentic, Barnabus was there to be his friend and advocate. Paul and Barnabus were teaching partners in the ministry at Antioch. They were the first to go out across the sea and spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God to Gentiles in the greater Roman Empire. Now, two friends are torn apart because of a difference of opinion. It is sad.

Yet, on the positive side, we can take comfort in the fact that two spiritual giants like Paul and Barnabus were still human, like us. Isn’t it ironic that, in the wake of the Jerusalem Council, just after the message of unity in the body of Christ was proclaimed, Paul and Barnabus disagree so sharply that they can no longer work together.

We must remember that each of us is on a path of development. As we discussed yesterday, we each have theological biases and ecclesiological hobby-horses and soap boxes upon which we love to stand. The ultimate goal is that we can all set these things aside and live in the freedom of God’s Grace and the love that Jesus called us to share with each other (even our enemies). Yet, we aren’t there yet. Sometimes, there does come a time when two people will find that their differences are so strong that they cannot work side by side. So, Paul takes Silas back to Galatia and Barnabus takes John Mark back to Cyprus.

Here is an evidence of the Grace of God at work. Even though this disagreement was not exemplary of God’s desire and design for his church, he still could use it and work his will and his Kingdom through it. When Paul and Barnabus split up, the mission work was doubled. Now there were two groups moving in the world instead of one. God will use us in spite of our petty humanness. Praise God! In the end, we must remember, Paul, Barnabus, and John Mark were reconciled. Perhaps Paul was humbled and came down off his high horse. Or, perhaps John Mark repented and made things right regarding his issues that led to his abandonment of Paul. In case, unity and reconciliation was ultimately achieved. We are in process. Let’s be patient with one another.

Finding Timothy

There is great irony in this story. Paul had just come from the Jerusalem Council where it had been decided that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised in order to be saved. He had also written the letter to the Galatians in which he speaks very strongly concerning the same matter and elaborates that we have freedom in Christ that is apart from the law. It is all about walking in the Spirit and bearing the fruit of the Spirit that matters. Whether a man has a foreskin or doesn’t has no bearing whatsoever on his place in the Kingdom of God. And then, he meets young Timothy and circumcises him.

What is up with that? Why did Paul feel the need to circumcise Timothy when, as we will see later, he does not circumcise Titus?

Timothy was a bi-racial boy. His mother was Jewish and his father was Greek. You can just guess how the Jewish community felt about this little boy – how they felt about his mother. He was a disgrace to them and they would have nothing to do with him. So Paul circumcised him in order to remove unnecessary hindrances to the mission.

Here is an important point that is at the heart of Paul’s theology. In 1 Corinthians 12:23-24 Paul said, “ Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” Everything is permissible. Do you hear that? That is freedom in Christ. Whether you have a foreskin or not; whether you observe certain festivals or not; whether you eat certain foods or not; whether you go to movies or not – all of these things are simply things. They are not unclean or clean, they simply are. Jesus said that it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean, but what comes out of his heart that makes him clean or unclean.

So, in light of this theology, Paul didn’t have a problem with circumcising Timothy and not circumcising Titus. It didn’t really matter. Yet, out of love for people and a desire for unity and the bond of peace, he was willing to meet the people of that region where they were and work with them there.

Just for Kids

Take a piece of paper and hold it up. This paper is one nice piece. You could probably draw a really great picture on it.

Now tear the paper in half in a rough way, not with a nice crease, but with a big ripping motion. What does it look now? Is it still useful as a whole paper? Can you still draw on each half?

Tape the pieces back together. Try to match the tears closely.

What is the paper like after you taped it? Is it as good as new? Can it still be used?

The lesson for today is that conflict can be very destructive to your family and to the church. Once you tear yourself away from someone, it leaves a big mark and does damage. Even if the damage is taped back together, it still leaves a scar.

Let’s work hard at working out our conflict and not splitting up like Paul and Barnabus did.

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Wednesday

Acts 16:6-10

From what regions was Paul kept from traveling? Why?

Through what means did God communicate his orders to Paul?

How did Paul respond to the calling?

Use your map to see the areas through which Paul traveled (and wasn’t allowed to travel) and the region to which he was called. What is significant about the region to which he was called?

Notice the voice of the passage (first person, third person, etc.). In what way does the voice change? Why?

Divine Detours

Have you ever had a plan that you thought was from God, that you thought made total sense, and that would bring glory to God and effectiveness to ministry…and then it flopped? In our story today we are confronted with one of the most difficult aspects of following God and serving in His Kingdom. When Paul left the region in which he had planted churches during his first missionary trip, he set off for the west in order to expand the work of planting churches. The trajectory he was on (heading into Asia) leads us to believe that he was intent upon arriving in Ephesus. This makes sense. If you were going to start a vital, church-planting ministry, where would you choose to go? Where would be the most strategic location from which to launch a region-wide campaign for the expansion of God’s Kingdom? You would want to find a cosmopolitan hub of trade and travel from which you could make the most dramatic impact for God. Right? Of course you would, and so would Paul. That is what Ephesus was; it was the hub of Asia. Ephesus would have been the ideal place to do ministry.

But God had a different plan. God said, “No, Paul, you aren’t going to Asia, I want you to go to Troas.” “ Troas!?!” Paul must have thought. “Why would I want to go to Troas? Troas is way to the north. It isn’t a regional hub; it’s a way station for people who are on a land-route to Rome. I thought I was going to reach Asia.”

“Go to Troas. You’ll figure it out when you get there.” “Yes, Lord.”

In Troas, Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man calling him to come over. Macedonia. This was a place that was as pagan as they came. It was here that Alexander the Great grew up and from here that he conquered the world with Greek culture. Now, under the rule of the Roman Empire, it was a vacation spot for the Roman upper class. There were very few Jews in the region. Paul had never considered this place. Hmmm… Macedonia. That could work.

Here’s the lesson for us. It is OK to make big plans for God. Make you plans, set out on your course and set the goals to accomplish those plans. But, in the going, be careful. Make sure that your plans do not become your god. As you are traveling toward your desired destination, always be listening to the still, soft voice of the Spirit. Be aware of the Spiritual Roadblocks and detour signs. Not every obstacle that lies in your path is from the enemy. The roadblock on the way to Ephesus was divinely placed in order to help Paul broaden his perspective. When you hear the voice, be willing to bag your plans and get with God’s plan. Always hold your objectives with open hands, realizing that God is the director of the course.

Just for Kids

Today is another map day.

Read through chapter 16 and plot out the regions and cities through which Paul traveled.

Where did Paul want to go? Where did God tell him to go?

How do you think Paul felt when he didn’t get to do what he wanted to do?

Have you ever had a time when you really wanted to do something but your parents said you had to do something else? How did you feel?

Paul knew that God, who is his Father, knew better than he did and knew what was best for him. So, Paul did not whine or pout about it, he simply said, “Yes, Lord” and obeyed.

The next time your parents want you to do something, remember that they love you and want the best for you. Trust them, and simply obey. Whining will just make it miserable.

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Thursday

Acts 16:11-24

What was special about Philippi?

Where did they go in Philippi and what did they expect to find there?

What kind of people gathered there? How did they respond to the Gospel?

How did the spirit respond to Paul and Silas? Why? Read Luke 4:31-37. Are there any parallels with this story from Jesus’ ministry?

What upset the girl’s owners?

How were Paul and Silas treated for delivering the girl from the power of an evil spirit? Why?

Welcome Luke

Did you notice that the voice of the narrative switch from the third person (“they”) to the first person (“we”)? That means that in Troas, Luke joins Paul’s traveling party. From this point on in the story of Acts, Luke tells Paul’s story from an eyewitness perspective. It is important to stop, just for a moment, and realize the importance of this event. Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. It is through his pen that we learn about the angels that visit Mary and the Shepherds, the life and teaching of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit’s activities at Pentecost. All of these events took place in Jerusalem and Palestine, yet Luke was from Troas. How did he learn these things?

There are two things to note about Luke and his history and theology.

1. His theological “imprinting” comes from Paul. In a sense, we could consider the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts (up to this point) as the gospel according to Paul as it was taught to Luke.
2. Later in the story we will discover that Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea for two years. During that time he most likely spent time in Jerusalem and Palestine, investigating the stories that Paul had told him about regarding the life of Jesus and the early church.

Another Spiritual Battle

Today we catch another installment of one of the running themes in Acts. Whenever the gospel came to a new region it was confronted with direct spiritual warfare. The same is true today. Satan rules in the hearts of people. Do you remember when Jesus was tempted? Satan offered to hand over all the kingdoms to Jesus if he would simply bow down to him. Jesus did not correct Satan for having a distorted self-understanding. He knew that Satan was indeed the prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Ephesians 2:2; 6:12). Satan’s greatest desire is to keep people’s hearts and minds bound down by distorted thinking so that they will not be able to see the light of truth that shines through Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God that He brought to reclaim the world. So, whenever the message of Jesus is brought into a new territory, there is going to be a battle.

The battle in Philippi took place in the life of a young girl. She had a spirit through which she could predict the future. The really interesting thing about the demonic encounters, both in Acts and the gospels, is how willing the demons are to proclaim the truth about Jesus. Compare this to the story in Luke 4. Here’s a key principle. The demons, being spiritual creatures and seeing with spiritual eyes, know exactly who Jesus is. They see him in all his glory as the eternal ruler. After all, Jesus created them and was their loving leader in the beginning. Yet they have rebelled against him and desperately seek to undermine him and destroy the beauty that he has created.

This little girl was a pawn in a twisted game. Her owners were using her “magic” to make a boat load of money. The people in the region (representing all of us, really) were desperately seeking to tap into the mysteries of life and know if there was hope and direction for them. They were willing to pay money to have this “gifted” child tell them what to expect.

Here’s a thought. This is just a speculation for the purpose of thinking outside the box…please understand. Have you ever wondered why the spirit proclaimed the truth about Paul and Silas if he was intent on undermining Jesus’ mission? Why not lie, or at least keep his mouth shut. What if this spirit’s job was simply to speak the truth about whomever it encountered? After all, it did tell people’s fortunes, right? When Fred would come in contact with the spirit, it would proclaim “Look at Fred, he’s a big fat loser, and his wife is about to dump him!” Next in line, the local banker would come to the spirit, and the spirit would proclaim, “Look everybody, here’s Bill, and he’s cheating you on your interest.” This spirit’s function was to simply thrust your “stuff” into the public light, for good or bad. Then Paul comes on the scene, the spirit sees him and proclaims, “Hey, look, everybody, here are servants of the Most High God, who will tell you how to be saved!” That was the truth, right? Paul allowed this to happen for many days, until he became troubled with it and told the Spirit to take a hike.

Not all “evil” spirits are dastardly, gargoylish imps intent on tearing your flesh apart. Some spirits are simply performing the function for which they were created –by God, remember. In fact, they may even be very friendly. But here’s the dangerous part, they are evil because they are not functioning in submission to God’s plan. They are under the leadership of the Prince of this world.

Here are the two sins in this situation, as I see it, and the heart of the spiritual battle that Paul had to fight. First, there was a renegade spirit who was in rebellion against god and using his God-given purpose in a self-serving manner that was separated from God’s plan. Second, there was an abuse and an exploitation of a little girl for the sole purpose of profit. Humans are not property to be owned, and spiritual insight is not a parlor trick to be used for profit. Everything in the universe, both spiritual and physical, was created by God and is designed to be used in accordance with God’s plan. If it is not, then it is corrupted and needs to be redeemed.

Just for Kids

Have you ever seen a movie or read in your history books about how children were treated at the turn of the 20 th century in the United States. Millions of children were forced to work long hours in factories while the business owners got rich. Do you think that was right? How does it make you feel?

In our story today a young girl was being abused just like that. She was a slave and her owners were using her to make a lot of money through the spirit that lived inside her.

Jesus set her free from the spirit and from her owners.

There are many children in the world today who are being abused in similar ways. Spend some time praying for these children and ask God to help them find freedom.

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Friday

Acts 16:25-40

How did Paul and Silas handle being beaten and thrown in jail? Why?

What surprised the jailer?

How did Paul explain the process of being saved? How is this the same or different from other encounters so far in Acts (The Samaritans, The Ethiopian Eunuch, Cornelius, etc.)?

What caused the magistrates to be alarmed regarding Paul?

A True Miracle

Another running theme in the book of Acts is the fact that God used signs and wonders to proclaim his Kingdom in the world. In today’s story there is another evidence of this. There was a miracle in Philippi that night. This miracle demonstrated the power of God to a Roman jailer, so much so that he and his entire household were saved. What was the miracle? Was it the mighty earthquake that shook the prison’s foundations and set the captives free? No. That wasn’t the miracle. After all, earthquakes happen all the time and the skeptic can rationalize the earthquake away as a simple natural coincidence.

There were two miracles that night that led the jailer to salvation. The first miracle is found in v. 25. Even after Paul and Silas had been brutally beaten by a Roman jailer, and had been unjustly thrown in prison, they were praying and singing hymns! In the face of the worst possible physical circumstances, those who are operating within the Kingdom of God will be able to rise above the storm and see the good in it. They will be able to praise God in all things. That is a miracle.

The second miracle is the fact that, after the chains had been loosened and the gates flung open, Paul and Silas did not escape! Anyone who was functioning under the power of the flesh and the Kingdom of Man would have become opportunists at that point and high-tailed it to the hills when they saw the open prison doors. Not Paul and Silas. These two men of God did not see a terrible situation and an opportunity to save their own skin. Instead, they were other-oriented, and they saw a man who was truly afraid for his life, gripped by the fear and the pressure of his job, and so lost that he was ready to take his own life. This was the man who had beaten them earlier that night. A normal man would have been glad that the jailer was about to plunge a sword into his own heart. But not Paul and Silas. The love of Jesus poured out and overflowed from them so that they could say to the jailer, “Don’t harm yourself, we’re all here.” That is a miracle.

When the jailer saw the powerful difference that Jesus made in the lives of these men, he knew that he needed what they had. It wasn’t their condemnation of him that brought him to salvation. It was their bright light of demonstrating the faith and love of God that exposed the darkness in the jailer’s heart and drew him into the desire to seek salvation.

May we be that kind of miracle in the lives of the people we meet this week.

Just for Kids

Let’s have some fun and act out the story.

Here are the parts of the story. Act them out how you like.

• The jailer beats Paul and Silas (remember, this is acting…don’t hurt anybody)
• Paul and Silas are locked up in chains in jail.
• Have Paul and Silas be in chains singing and praying.
• Earthquake!!!
• When the jailer sees the doors open he tries to kill himself.
• Paul and Silas say that there is no need to harm himself because they are still there.
• The jailer asks how to be saved.
• The jailer cleans Paul and Silas up and they share a meal together.

If you were in prison, do you think you would be able to sing and have a good attitude?

The next time you feel like life is hard, remember Paul and Silas in jail. Life is good when we choose to see it through God’s eyes and not through our own.

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