Acts 16:35-40

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35 The next morning the officials sent some police with orders for the jailer to let Paul and Silas go. 36 The jailer told Paul, "The officials have ordered me to set you free. Now you can leave in peace." 37 But Paul told the police, "We are Roman citizens, and the Roman officials had us beaten in public without giving us a trial. They threw us into jail. Now do they think they can secretly send us away? No, they cannot! They will have to come here themselves and let us out." 38 When the police told the officials that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the officials were afraid. 39 So they came and apologized. They led them out of the jail and asked them to please leave town. 40 But Paul and Silas went straight to the home of Lydia, where they saw the Lord's followers and encouraged them. Then they left. ~ Acts 16:35-40

Today, we complete our study of Acts 16 where we find Paul,         Silas, Timothy and Luke on their second missionary journey. This team was in Philippi, a pagan Roman city located in the Roman province of Macedonia. It was there that Paul and his entourage were preaching the gospel and a young slave girl who was demon possessed was delivered from her demon possession. This made the slave owners of this girl really mad because they lost a lot of money due to her ability to foretell the future. This caused the slave owners to demand that Paul and Silas be beaten and then thrown into jail. After they were beaten and jailed a massive earthquake took place at midnight resulting in the jailer embracing faith in the Lord Jesus.

In v.35-36 of today's passage we read, "35 The next morning the officials sent some police with orders for the jailer to let Paul and Silas go. 36 The jailer told Paul, 'The officials have ordered me to set you free. Now you can leave in peace.'"

After the earthquake the jailer took Paul and Silas to his house where his family embraced faith in the Lord Jesus. After eating a meal at the house of the newly born-again jailer everybody got some sleep. It has been speculated that the guilty conscience of the officials who had Paul and Silas beaten and then thrown into jail was at work. As a result, the officials sent some police officers to inform the jailer to free Paul and Silas. It seems that Paul and Silas were returned to the prison cell prior to anyone arriving in the morning, probably to keep the jailer out of trouble with the officials. Where once the officials offered Paul and Silas hatred, they now offered them freedom. Sadly, the officials there in Philippi did not understand that without a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus, no one really has freedom. It is only the perfect love of God operative in our souls that we can have real freedom.

In v.37-39 of today's passage we read, "37 But Paul told the police, 'We are Roman citizens, and the Roman officials had us beaten in public without giving us a trial. They threw us into jail. Now do they think they can secretly send us away? No, they cannot! They will have to come here themselves and let us out.' 38 When the police told the officials that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the officials were afraid. 39 So they came and apologized. They led them out of the jail and asked them to please leave town."

After the jailer told Paul and Silas that the officials had sent word to let them go, Paul let it be known once again that he and Silas were Roman citizens and that their rights had been violated. The Roman officials violated their rights by having them beat publicly. And they did this without granting them a trial. When Paul and Silas were finally released from prison, they were released so early in the morning so that the officials could  secretly cover up their sin. In response, Paul and Silas were not going to leave the jail without the officials making a confession of their sin.

Oh, the irony here. Rather than Paul and Silas, it was the city officials who were shown to be in the wrong. The officials were blown away when they learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They were gripped by their fear. The officials had violated the rights of Roman citizens and could have been held liable with severe results. The humiliation served its purpose when the officials came and apologized. After this Paul and Silas were released. The Lord orchestrated their release in order to provide safety for the newborn believers there in Philippi. 

The Roman officials felt great fear which most often is a really bad motivator. Fear has been known to produce long lasting negative effects that outweigh the motivation that it possibly produces. According to 1 John 4:18 the best motivation is love. Love produces much longer lasting effects in our lives, much more than fear which rarely motivates toward constructive results. Most often fear causes us to retreat and to live in isolation. This type of isolation stunts our relationships. When we are fearful we are found unable to do our best work since much of our time and energy are wasted while we are watching our backs. When we are shackled by our fears, we are rendered unable to fulfill our potential, we find ourselves miserable and unable to function as God intended. When we are defined by our fear we tend to focus on the negative side of things and we therefore miss what God has for us in that moment.

In 1 John 4:18 we read, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love."

There is a clear connection between fear and punishment. In fact, a careful study of the Bible reveals that fear and punishment are almost always bound together. And here, God reveals love and fear are exclusive to one another. Love casts out fear. It gives us freedom from fear. A literal translation here is: "fear has punishment." Not "has to do with punishment," as though it always produces it. Even more literally, since this word for punishment comes from a root word which means to limit or to restrain, what John is saying here is "fear imprisons us." Worry and anxiety are forms of fear, and they literally imprison us. Fear imprisons us, boxes us in, binds us up, limits our life, pushes us into corners and keeps us there, and we cannot live as God intended for us to live in those circumstances.

God's love is the answer here. Perhaps this is why we experience trials which often position us to see His love for us best. Only God can live out perfect love. We are unable to produce perfect love as God does. The answer is that we come to the place where we experience His love for us which makes it possible for us to live out of our belovedness. God’s perfect love which is a self-sacrificing love was best demonstrated through the cross of the Lord Jesus. Brennan Manning once wrote, "Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion." 

In v.40 of today's passage we read, "But Paul and Silas went straight to the home of Lydia, where they saw the Lord's followers and encouraged them. Then they left."

After they were released from jail, Paul and Silas made a bee line to Lydia’s house so that they could encourage the believers there. They were motivated by the love that they themselves had received from God while in prison. It is through our darkest moments in life that we are afforded the opportunities to see the Lord for ourselves. Once this happens we see others differently, we see them as the beloved that they are in the eyes of God. Clearly God's love won over any fear that may have been in Paul and Silas' hearts that night. After encouraging the believers at Lydia's house, Paul and Silas then departed as free men. 

It appears Luke remained in Philippi, making it his home base for ministry. All of this just reminds us that we must not look at our trials as bad things. We must never forget that God is love and He is sovereign and we can trust in His divine wisdom no matter what happens in our lives. We are all part of something that is much bigger than we are, and God is at work, working out His plans accordingly for the good of all involved. For this we can live unshackled lives as we learn to grow in our trust in God's perfect love.

Acts 16:25-34

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25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped.” 29 The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. 30 After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.” 32 Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. 33 While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. 34 They were very glad they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat. ~ Acts 16:25-34

Today, we return to our study of Acts 16 where the Apostle Paul, along with Silas, Timothy and Luke are in the Roman city of Philippi. While in Philippi this team shared the gospel with many including women on the banks of the Gangites River. Of those who came to believe in the Lord Jesus as her Savior was Lydia who was from the city of Thyatira. Her job was selling purple cloth. In today's passage the jailer who was responsible for the confinement of Paul and Silas in the jail there will come to faith in the Lord Jesus as his Savior. In fact, his whole family will believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

In v.25 of today's passage we read, "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened."

Although they had been thrown into the deepest part of the prison, Paul and Silas prayed to and sang praises to God. There is an old saying that goes like this: "What is down in the well comes up in the bucket." It is very difficult to permanently fake or hide who we truly are. Just as a bucket lowered into a muddy well will bring up muddy water, a person with bitterness, anger, or deceit in their heart will eventually display those same qualities. Conversely, a heart filled with the presence of the Lord Jesus will to some degree reflect His character. We are most free when we are walking in harmony with the God who made us. Regardless of the physical restraints that may confine us. This was truly the case for Paul and Silas in that Philippian jail that night.

In v.26-29 of today's passage we read, "26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped.' 29 The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas."

It was at midnight in the jail and Paul and Silas were found praying and singing praises to God. Who does that? We are so privileged to be born again! If God's Spirit did not live within us we would know nothing of eternal life. In the same way that we can only know the sun by its own light, so we can only know the Lord Jesus Christ by His own Spirit. As Paul and Silas were praying and singing in the jail, there came a great earthquake which shook the foundations of the prison. So greatly did it shake that the doors to the prison were thrown open and the chains holding all of the prisoners fell off. It was then that the jailer thought of killing himself for he knew that if the prisoners escaped, he would have been as good as dead. His authorities would see to it. But, before he could commit suicide, Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped." Even though the jailer was prepared to kill himself, a lifeline was thrown to him. What he did next would be an instant metaphor for his spiritual condition because he in that moment went from spiritual darkness to spiritual light. With his eyes straining to look into the darkness of the dungeon, his soul was given light. It happened when the apostle Paul spoke words of life to him piercing through his suicidal thoughts. 

The prayers and the songs of Paul and Silas had a profound effect on the other prisoners as evidenced by the fact that they remained in their cells even though they could have escaped. We have all been in those situations where we had to patiently wait on the Lord through our trials, our troubles, our tribulations, and our testings. Paul and Silas were able to endure through their prayers to and their praise of God. It is obvious yet again that there is a need in the human soul that cannot be fixed by none other than the One who created us. And, it is only through the Word of God that sense can be made of our chaos. By kneeling down in the front of Paul and Silas the Philippian jailer revealed that the light of Christ's word had impacted him. But, he had yet to learn that it wasn't Paul and Silas that he needed to worship. No, it was the Lord Jesus he needed to worship because what we worship the most defines us the best.

In v.30-31 of today's passage we read, "30 After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, 'What must I do to be saved?' 31 They replied, 'Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.'"

The jailer understood what he had heard as Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God. He would not have asked his question about how to be saved otherwise. In that moment right on the heels of this massive earthquake did the jailer find true reality. With his anxious and honest question presented, the obvious answer was quickly given by Paul and Silas. Simply, believe that the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross garnered for us the forgiveness of God. 

In v.32-34 of today's passage we read, "32 Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. 33 While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. 34 They were very glad they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat."

Even though it was between 12:30 and 2:30 in the morning, there was absolutely no hesitation in getting from the prison to the jailer's house. It was there that Paul and Silas shared the gospel with the jailer's family in their home. It was also there that the jailer and those of his household were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Once born again they were quick to obey God from their hearts.

Since Paul and Silas' bodies were covered in blood from their beatings, the jailer cleaned them up from their wounds. This was a kindhearted act of care upon those who only a short time earlier were considered enemies by the jailer. Paul and Silas were cleansed from their own blood while the jailer and his family were baptized as a sign of being cleansed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Finally, the jailer out of the joy of his salvation gave to Paul and Silas something to eat. God alone can transform a man that fast. This guy was on the verge of killing himself, but just in the nick of time the words of Paul stopped him. And, the night ended with a Roman soldier entertaining some Jewish evangelists from Israel. They rejoiced over a meal in the dead of the night, metaphoric of what God does in the soul of a person who has come out of the darkness into the light of the gospel.

Acts 16:16-24

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16 One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. 17 The girl followed Paul and the rest of us, and she kept yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.” 18 This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!” At once the evil spirit left her. 19 When the girl's owners realized they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. 20 They told the officials, “These Jews are upsetting our city! 21 They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. 23 After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood. ~ Acts 16:16-24

Today, we return to our study of Acts 16 where the Apostle Paul is in the pagan city of Philippi with Silas, Timothy and Luke. After Paul and his entourage entered Philippi, the apostle Paul did what he did in every city he went into, he proclaimed the gospel with everyone who would listen. In most places Paul went to the synagogue first, where the religious people were gathered. Since Philippi was a pagan city, there was no synagogue there. This explains why Paul and his friends on their first sabbath morning in Philippi preached the gospel among a bunch of women down by the river. I find it quite instructive that the gospel entered Europe through a group of believing woman. 

In v.16-18 of today's passage we read, "16 One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. 17 The girl followed Paul and the rest of us, and she kept yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.” 18 This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!” At once the evil spirit left her."

While in Philippi, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke met a slave girl who was demon-possessed. This girl was valuable to her owners for she had the ability to make a profit by fortune-telling. After she noticed Paul and his friends she started yelling for days obnoxiously that they were servants of the Most High God. Since she prophesied for money, this demon-possessed woman supposed that Paul would reward her if she publicly proclaimed that they were the servants of God. It has been said of this woman that she may actually have been hoping that Paul would expel the demon from her. It is undeniable that the demon within her did not want anyone to believe in the One and Only Savior. 

I am often asked if a believer can be possessed by a demon. Although the Bible does not directly answer the question, the answer still seems obvious. If a person is in Christ, that person cannot be possessed by a demon. The residences are incompatible. Having said that, believers can certainly be oppressed by the devil and his demons. This is made clear in Ephesians 4:27 which reads, "…give no place to the devil." This idea is also supported by Ephesians 6:11 which reads, "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

This girl continued to annoy Paul and his friends to the point that "Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!" The key to Paul's ability to call that demon out of this girl was the phrase "in the name of Jesus." In Matthew 7:22-23 we read, "22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'" Even those at the end of time who will be sent to Hell for the lack of a personal relationship with the Lord will cast out demons in the name of the Lord Jesus but they will not enter into heaven.

In v.19-22 of today's passage we read, "19 When the girl's owners realized they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. 20 They told the officials, “These Jews are upsetting our city! 21 They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip."

When the young girl's masters saw that she was no longer controlled by the demon their hope of profit was gone. This infuriated them. As a result, they grabbed Paul and Silas and had them beaten and thrown into jail. When the gospel is properly preached, it will be made clear that we are all sinners and in need of the Savior. It is our sinful condition that made us dead to God and we are therefore born on the side of the devil. This made us the enemies of God. But, people simply do not want to admit they are the enemies of God. When we admit that sin is our problem, it is then that we become candidates for God's forgiveness. 

In v.23-24 of today's passage we read, "23 After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood."

The entire crowd came against Paul and Silas that day and they were so enraged that they beat them mercilessly. The fact that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens was not yet known. It is probable that even if they called out that they were, they had no chance to be heard. It all happened so fast, Paul and Silas could not make their case. They were manhandled, stripped, and then beaten close to death. In 2 Corinthians 11:24 the Apostle Paul informs us that from the Jews five times he received 39 blows. The change in the Apostle Paul's life was so profound. He went from wanting to kill Christians to being willing to be killed for the Christ. The Lord Jesus didn’t just come to make bad people good, He came to make dead people alive.

What happened to Paul and Silas was unfair according to the laws of Rome. And yet, the Lord allowed it to happen. It is not uncommon for bad things to happen to those who believe in the God of the Bible. Quite often, this is the case even when we have done nothing wrong. As long as we are in this world, we are subject to the same evil that led to the death of the Apostles. We live in a world that is largely controlled by the devil. This should make us long for our real home in heaven where there will be no injustice, pain and trouble.

Acts 16:11-15

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11 We left Troas and sailed straight to the island of Samothrace. The next day we sailed to Neapolis. 12 Then we went by land to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city in that part of Macedonia. We stayed there for several days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the river where we thought we would find a special place for prayer. Some women had gathered there, so we sat down and talked with them. 14 One of the listeners was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira whose job was selling purple cloth. She worshiped God, and he opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 She and all the people in her house were baptized. Then she invited us to her home, saying, "If you think I am truly a believer in the Lord, then come stay in my house." And she persuaded us to stay with her. ~ Acts 16:11-15

Today, we return to our study of Acts 16 where the Apostle Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke departed from Troas for the Island of Samothrace. The next day they traveled to the city of Neapolis. Then after they were in Neapolis, they went to Philippi. In each of those cities the Lord had appointments for these first century believers in the Lord Jesus. This is true for all of us. Everyday the Lord has appointments for all of us who believe. Like Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke, as we are led by the Lord we realize these appointments. Very often they come at us in the form of disappointments but change one letter and they become His appointments. Such is our life of faith in the sovereign God who knows all things long before they happen. 

In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "To have faith in Christ means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you."

In v.11 of today's passage we read, "We left Troas and sailed straight to the island of Samothrace. The next day we sailed to Neapolis."

Samothrace was an island in the Aegean Sea not far from Thrace. It was populated by inhabitants from Samos and from Thrace. Hence its name. The island was about 20 miles in circumference, and was an asylum for fugitives and criminals. The next day Paul and his companions traveled to Neapolis which means "New City." It was about sixty-five miles from Samothrace and about ten miles from Philippi. The movement of Paul and his entourage subtly illustrates the real story that was going on in the hearts of the people that they came into contact with during their journey. The real story is how we respond to truth when we hear it. Could it be that God actually closed all doors in order to prove the faithfulness of Paul and ultimately the faith of Lydia, as we will see. When we encounter a slammed door, we do well to not draw back but to keep moving through the open doors God provides. In these moments God tests of our faithfulness and out of these tests we realize a greater capacity to do the work He has called us to do. Persistence is the secret weapon of the faithful.

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "Then we went by land to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city in that part of Macedonia. We stayed there for several days."

Philippi had been previously named Dathos. It was renamed by Philip, the father of Alexander the Great. It was famous for having been the place where several battles were fought during the civil wars of the Romans. In fact, it was there the decisive battle between Brutus and Antony happened. It was there that Brutus killed himself. Philippi was the main city in that part of Macedonia. But, it is not the place the Lord is most interested, it is the people who capture His heart. We must be the same. Again, through the changing of the name from Dathos to Philippi we are given yet again a glimpse of the real story, the changing of hearts toward God.

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the river where we thought we would find a special place for prayer. Some women had gathered there, so we sat down and talked with them."

It was on the Sabbath day that Paul and his entourage sat down and spoke with the women at the river just outside the city. Paul was quick to engage the women there about the Lord Jesus. Everything recorded in the Bible is given to tell us something about what God wants us to know. In that day, women were not valued very highly. The fact that God values women speaks very highly of Him. Even though women have been the most oppressed down through history, the Lord Jesus honored women and made them an important part of His ministry. When we became followers of the Lord Jesus, His heart was given to us. As His heart becomes more prominent to us we will see people as He sees them. As a result, no one will be off limits to us because no one is off limits to the Lord.

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "14 One of the listeners was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira whose job was selling purple cloth. She worshiped God, and he opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 She and all the people in her house were baptized. Then she invited us to her home, saying, 'If you think I am truly a believer in the Lord, then come stay in my house.' And she persuaded us to stay with her."

Down by the river Paul and his entourage met a woman named Lydia who sold purple clothing.  Lydia lived in the city of Thyatira which was located in Asia Minor. In those days, purple was considered a highly valuable color and it was very difficult to find. It was the color often worn by royalty. Being a dealer in this fabric meant that Lydia was well-connected and she was somewhat wealthy. It was in Thyatira that the art of dyeing was cultivated. God works out the details of our lives showing that even the most insignificant things about us, such as where we were born, end up being very important with regard to the advancement of the gospel through our lives. As a result of hearing the Word of God by the river, faith was born in Lydia's heart. 

In Romans 10:17 we read, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." As a sign of Lydia's faith in the Lord, she and her family who also believed, were baptized. They were baptized because this was the command of the Lord Jesus. It is true for all of us who have believed on the Lord Jesus that once we were "born again" we desired to obey Him. This is due to the fact that the Holy Spirit changes our aims and our appetites once we have become believers in the Lord Jesus.

Acts 16:6-10

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6 Paul and those with him went through the areas of Phrygia and Galatia since the Holy Spirit did not let them preach the Good News in Asia. 7 When they came near the country of Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not let them. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went to Troas. 9 That night Paul saw in a vision a man from Macedonia. The man stood and begged, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we immediately prepared to leave for Macedonia, understanding that God had called us to tell the Good News to those people. ~ Acts 16:6-10

Today, we return to our study of Acts 16 where we read of the Apostle Paul and Silas traveling to the area that Paul and Barnabas had visited during their first missionary journey. They traveled on this second missionary journey in order to strengthen the believers in that area in their faith in the God of the Bible. As a result the number of those who came to believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior increased daily. 

In v.6 of today's passage we read, "Paul and those with him went through the areas of Phrygia and Galatia since the Holy Spirit did not let them preach the Good News in Asia."

Phrygia was mentioned along with many other areas in Acts 2 when God initially poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Those who were there from Phrygia who had come to faith in the Lord after hearing Peter's first sermon traveled back to their homes. Phrygia was the largest of the provinces of Asia Minor. Bithynia was to its north, Pisidia and Lycia were to its south, Galatia and Cappadocia were to its east, and Lydia and Mysia were to its west. This was the area where the church of the Galatians was located. These were those who were being tempted to be circumcised to be made right before God. They had yet to be convinced that God's forgiveness of our sin is based only on the shed blood of the Lord Jesus on the cross. This was the primary reason the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians. 

As we are told at the end of this verse, Paul and his companions were not allowed to go into Asia. This Asia is not what we know today as Asia. It was the area also known in biblical days as Ionia. Ephesus was the capital there. This is where the seven churches mentioned in Revelation 1-3 were located. Paul had developed the habit of walking through the open doors that were before him. This is one way of knowing God's will for our lives. Paul took the next step in the path ahead. When the Lord didn't want him to go to a certain place, He shut the doors. Paul and Silas and Timothy knew and trusted they were being led by the Holy Spirit in the right direction. The will of God for all who believe in the Lord Jesus is that we will enjoy a growing relationship with Him wherein we recognize His voice and His leading because we have heard Him that much.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "When they came near the country of Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not let them."

Bithynia was a Roman province located in the northwest area of what we know today as Turkey. It bordered the Black Sea. Paul and Silas and Timothy attempted to go in that direction but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them. Once again, Paul and his companions were unable to successfully travel through this area and they recognized it as the will of God. God will never contradict His Word when He is leading us into His Will. He will always use circumstances, as well. Circumstances or opened and closed doors are useful in knowing the Lord's will for our lives. Here, Luke was careful to include the name of the Lord Jesus. He did this so that we would be shown that Paul and Silas had not been hindered by an evil spirit. 

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 So they passed by Mysia and went to Troas. 9 That night Paul saw in a vision a man from Macedonia. The man stood and begged, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'"

Troas is a city on the northeastern coast of the Aegean Sea in the province where the ancient city of Troy had stood. It was there that the events recorded in the Iliad of Homer are supposed to have occurred. The city of Troy has long since been completely destroyed. It was while they were in Troas that Paul had this vision. When we respond to the revelation that God has given us, we can expect that He will give us more. Nothing stunts the revelation that Lord longs to give us more than our lack of response to the revelation He has already given us. Here, Paul had a vision. This vision was about a Macedonian man who called out to him. This man "stood and begged" him to come to Macedonia to help them. Very often, we will know the will of God for our lives due to the fact that He has equipped us to meet the needs of others.

In those days, it was necessary for the Lord to personally appear to men, directing them according to His plan. With the Bible now complete, we have the necessary instructions to follow through with the task of spreading the gospel. It is no longer the norm for God to give His people visions for direction. This is why He gave us His Word. This is why He places so much of an emphasis on relationship. This explains why we desire miracles from God more than relationship with God. This is why the Holy Spirit will always lead us to proclaim the Word of God to others. When we proclaim the Word of God and when we go in the direction the Lord leads us that proves consistency in our walk with the Lord.

In v.10 of today's passage we read, "After Paul had seen the vision, we immediately prepared to leave for Macedonia, understanding that God had called us to tell the Good News to those people."

It is clear here that Luke joined Paul and Silas in Troas indicated by the word "we" and "us" used in this verse. Luke was immediately considered a part of the team and he was an integral part of the calling that took place. This not only identified Luke as the compiler of the events of Acts, he was also an evangelist in his own right. This is seen through the fact that he was a part of those called "to tell the Good News to those people." 

Luke was also careful to note that Paul was certain that the vision of the man from Macedonia wasn’t just a dream. Rather, like Peter’s vision before, he understood it to be from the Lord. Even though their efforts were thwarted, they continued to share the gospel wherever the Lord led them. The fact that the Apostle Paul had a vision does not mean that visions are to be expected in our own lives to direct where we should go or what we should do. The one thing we can be sure of is that the Lord is leading us and wherever we are found, we must share the life altering message of the Gospel with whomever will listen. This is why the Lord has given to us His Word. Through it, He has provided what we need to know concerning our walk before Him. This is why He emphasizes faith so much. Faith is integral to any relationship, especially our relationship with the Lord. The key is that we are daily seeking Him through His Word.

Acts 16:1-5

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1 Paul came to Derbe and Lystra, where a follower named Timothy lived. Timothy’s mother was Jewish and a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 The believers in Lystra and Iconium respected Timothy and said good things about him. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, but all the people living in that area knew that Timothy’s father was Greek. So Paul circumcised Timothy to please his mother’s people. 4 Paul and those with him traveled from town to town and gave the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches became stronger in the faith and grew larger every day. ~ Acts 16:1-5

Today, we transition into our study of Acts 16. The combination of prayer, God's indwelling Spirit within the believer and the study of God's Word produces spiritual growth in the believer. Spiritual growth does not happen automatically. Without prayer, the Holy Spirit and scripture reading, our spiritual lives will languish. With prayer, the Holy Spirit and the study of the scriptures we mature in our walk with God. 

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "Paul came to Derbe and Lystra, where a follower named Timothy lived. Timothy’s mother was Jewish and a believer, but his father was a Greek."

Having gone through Syria and Cilicia, Paul and Silas now are in Derbe and Lystra an area where Paul and Barnabas had fled in Acts 14 after having been chased out of Iconium. It was in Lystra that a believer in the Lord Jesus lived. His name was Timothy who came to believe in the Lord Jesus through the ministry of Paul during the first missionary journey. In one of his epistles the Apostle Paul refers to Timothy as his "son in the faith." It was the faith of Timothy's grandmother and his mother that influenced his conversion.

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "The believers in Lystra and Iconium respected Timothy and said good things about him."

The believers in Lystra respected Timothy because of his testimony. The word translated as "respected" means "witness." This is the word from which our English word "martyr" comes. After Paul and Barnabas left Lystra, Timothy had earned a positive reputation among all of the people. Timothy learned at a young age that the best testimonies are yielded through the lives of the surrendered.

In 2 Timothy 3:14-15 we read, "14 But you must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know that you can trust those of us who have taught you. 15 You know how, when you were a small child, you were taught the holy Scriptures; and it is these that make you wise to accept God’s salvation by trusting in Christ Jesus." 

It is obvious that Timothy was so well-versed in the Old Testament Scriptures. He was so well-versed that he had great character. John Wooden, the famous Basketball coach and Hall of Famer who guided UCLA to a record 10 national championships, is quoted as saying: "The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching." Wooden also said, "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

Biblical character is a product of the inculcated Word of God in the soul of a man. In Romans 15:4 we read, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." It is through our perseverance through our trials and the substance of the Scriptures that God's character is forged within us. The fear of God is the thing that gets this tractor started. This fear causes us to turn to the Lord for the answers which are found in His Word. Once discovered, the answers or the truth becomes a part of who we are becoming. In the end, it is the willingness to die to ourselves, enabling us to consistently say "yes" to the Lord that renders the desires we pursue. Genuine Christian character always involves sacrifice, and that is something only faith in the Lord Jesus will deliver to us.  

In v.3 of today's passage we read, "Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, but all the people living in that area knew that Timothy’s father was Greek. So Paul circumcised Timothy to please his mother’s people."

Paul recognized that Timothy’s character and his presence would benefit their journey. But, there was a problem. Timothy was half Greek and therefore had not been circumcised. So, Paul circumcised Timothy. This seems to contradict what Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia but since the Jews opposed Paul so much Timothy agreed to be circumcised so that the gospel would not be hindered.

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-20 we read, "19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law."

The Apostle Paul, along with Timothy, surrendered or set aside his own preferences, comforts and rights, so that there would not be any undue road blocks to a person choosing to believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior. It was Matthew Henry who once said, "The Apostle Paul would not sin against God to save the soul of his neighbor, but he would very cheerfully and readily deny himself. The rights of God he could not give up, but he might resign his own, and he very often did so for the good of others." 

Selflessness is one of the most sturdy foundations upon which we can do ministry. Self-preservation is one of the greatest dangers to fulfilling the call of God on our lives. The darkness of self-centeredness undermines the gospel. Our selfishnesses swing open the door to immaturity which always thwarts us from the will of God. The mark of a truly mature man is that he wants to live humbly for a noble cause. To live selflessly is essential if God's kingdom is us to be paramount in our lives.

In v.4 of today's passage we read, "Paul and those with him traveled from town to town and gave the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey."

Continuing on from Derbe and Lystra, everywhere they went Paul and Silas encountered believers who had trusted in the Lord Jesus. To them, Paul and his entourage, provided the judgment that had previously been rendered in Jerusalem that it is only through believing in the Lord Jesus that one is forgiven his sin by God. Interestingly, there is no council of apostles and elders in Jerusalem today. When the apostles all died, that was the end of the authority of this body in deciding matters concerning the church. The writings of the apostles were saved and compiled into the New Testament. Along with the Old Testament, it now stands as the sole authority for deciding matters concerning the faith. Of course, much care must be taken when interpreting the Scriptures. This is why we must have a proper hermeneutic when doing so. A biblical hermeneutic yields a proper understanding of any passage under consideration. Context is always king and if it makes sense to interpret a passage literally we must. If not, we must apply the principles for interpreting figurative language.

In v.5 of today's passage we read, "So the churches became stronger in the faith and grew larger every day."

As a proper delineation of the truth from God was given the people grew in their faith in the Lord Jesus. It wasn’t just that they were made stronger for the moment, these new believers experienced the freedom the truth always renders. With the decision of the council in Jerusalem, these Gentiles felt safe among the Jews who had believed in the Lord Jesus. The demands of the legalistic Judaizers would have robbed them of this and there would be no end to the rat race that often capsizes those given to a legalistic mindset.

Only when one submits to the Lord Jesus Christ and concludes that He has made them right with God is there any true freedom. Freedom in Christ means we are free to fail and free not to fail. It means we are free to follow the Lord Jesus and we are free to run from Him. Freedom in Christ means we are free to obey Him and we are free not to obey Him. Freedom in Christ means we are free to sin and we are free not to sin. This is all due to God's grace which is unmerited. And, the fact that we take advantage of it proves its is unmerited by us. We shouldn't take advantage of God's grace for it is not wise to do so. But, we all must admit, we do sometimes take advantage of God's grace. 

Freedom in Christ makes us all extremely nervous because it isn't an obedience issue, it’s a heart issue. Our freedom in the Lord Jesus will parallel our understanding of His unconditional love for us and that the Lord Jesus earned His unconditional love for us. I will close with a quote from Brennan Manning, "The way of trust is a movement into obscurity, into the undefined, into ambiguity, not into some predetermined, clearly delineated plan for the future. The next step discloses itself only out of a discernment of God acting in the desert of the present moment. The reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down, obvious, and secure, and walks into the unknown without any rational explanation to justify the decision or guarantee the future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered it his presence and his promise."

Acts 15:36-41

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36 After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, "We should go back to all those towns where we preached the message of the Lord. Let’s visit the believers and see how they are doing." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, 38 but he had left them at Pamphylia; he did not continue with them in the work. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him. 39 Paul and Barnabas had such a serious argument about this that they separated and went different ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left. The believers in Antioch put Paul into the Lord’s care, 41 and he went through Syria and Cilicia, giving strength to the churches. ~ Acts 15:36-41

Today, we conclude our study of Acts 15. Having been encouraged that the leaders in Jerusalem had responded to the legalists who had said that the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus was not enough to secure a person in his salvation, Paul and Barnabas continued to teach and preach the Word of God in Antioch. The righteousness that God promised through the perfect life lived by the Lord Jesus and the perfect death that He died was certainly enough to secure the salvation of all who choose to believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior. In fact, as we look throughout the Old Testament, we discover that the Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of all of the Law and all of the Old Testament prophecies.

In v.36 of today's passage we read, "After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, 'We should go back to all those towns where we preached the message of the Lord. Let’s visit the believers and see how they are doing.'"

Paul and Barnabas spent just over a year in Antioch between the end of their first missionary journey and the beginning of the second. The second missionary journey was motivated by the concern Paul and Barnabas shared for those they had previously evangelized. It was their primary concern that the new believers there were growing in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. They were also concerned that these new believers were not being tripped up in the faith by the legalistic Judaizers. 

In v.37-38 of today's passage we read, "37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, 38 but he had left them at Pamphylia; he did not continue with them in the work. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him."

As they were about to embark on their second missionary journey, Barnabas made it known to Paul that he wanted John Mark to go with them but Paul objected to the idea. John Mark was the cousin to Barnabas and it was he who had deserted Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey just after they had arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. Although there is no clear reason given for Mark's departure, most believe that his soft childhood had not prepared him for the rigors they encountered. The fact is John Mark's departure had created a serious irritation between Paul and Barnabas. It undoubtedly would’ve been awfully tough on Mark to go along with Paul when he knew all the time that Paul didn’t trust him. Life is filled with events that we often cannot resolve, and which may turn out negatively. Yet, God always uses the lessons learned from them to bring about something good in another area of our lives. We cab absolutely trust His wisdom and in His sovereignty.

In v.39-41 of today's passage we read, "39 Paul and Barnabas had such a serious argument about this that they separated and went different ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left. The believers in Antioch put Paul into the Lord’s care, 41 and he went through Syria and Cilicia, giving strength to the churches."

As a result, Paul and Barnabas "separated and went different ways." Barnabas took John Mark with him to his hometown of Cyprus where they did ministry. This is the last time that Barnabas is mentioned in the book of Acts. From this point onward the Apostle Paul would be used of God without Barnabas involved. Barnabas is directly mentioned two more times in the New Testament. The first in 1 Corinthians 9 where Paul referenced him in a good light. Barnabas is also mentioned in the book of Galatians where Paul notes that he was led astray by the legalistic Judaizers who came to Antioch, an event that probably occurred during the events of Acts 15.

The phrase translated "they separated and went different ways" is only used one other time in the New Testament. It is used in Revelation 6:14 which provides a description of an apocalyptic disaster. The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas was very heated. Interestingly, Barnabas did a marvelous work with John Mark. And, it all was used of the Lord to encourage all involved. And, the will of God was accomplished. In fact, John Mark was useful to the Apostle Paul while Paul was in a Roman prison toward the end of his life.

A result of Paul and Barnabas' breakup was that Silas became Paul's ministry partner. Silas had been sent earlier to Antioch from Jerusalem along with Judas. When Silas was sent by the leaders in Jerusalem to Antioch, Silas had no idea how his life would change. This just points out the fact that God chooses the right people for the right job. Like the Apostle Paul, Silas was a Roman citizen. He was also a Jew. Unlike Paul, Silas was from Jerusalem. In every way, God had prepared Silas to do the ministry that He had for him. And, as we will see his story unfold, we will be in awe of the wisdom and the sovereignty of God.

Acts 15:30-35

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30 So they left Jerusalem and went to Antioch where they gathered the church and gave them the letter. 31 When they read it, they were very happy because of the encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said many things to encourage the believers and make them stronger. 33 After some time Judas and Silas were sent off in peace by the believers, and they went back to those who had sent them, 34 but Silas decided to remain there. 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch and, along with many others, preached the Good News and taught the people the message of the Lord. ~ Acts 15:30-35

Today, we return to our study of Acts 15. It is human nature to desire glory and our desire for glory has been tainted by sin. This is why the legalists who had been badgering Paul and Barnabas during and after their first missionary journey were behaving as they did. Every human on the face of this planet struggles with the temptation for validation, status, and recognition. Our desire for glory is one of our strongest intrinsic motivations. And, due to our fallen condition, it will lead to burnout and emptiness if we are not motivated by bringing glory to the Lord.

This is ultimately the reason the legalist exists. Even we who have been born again and have entered into a personal relationship with God struggle with seeking our own notoriety and self-righteousness rather than giving glory to God. This is why these legalists placed this burden on these newly born-again Gentiles. They were actually calling for them to do something they had only done partially. It was John Piper who once said, “The essence of legalism is when faith is not the engine of obedience.” We can even fight for God's glory and be wrong at the same time if our fight isn't rooted in biblical love and faith. This translates over into our lives in making us to think that we have to earn or maintain God's favor. When we do certain things in order to earn God's favor or maintain it, we are not operating out of biblical faith. Instead, we are saying that we must add to the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross in order for Him to accept us. When we think we must add to His work on the cross in order to be accepted by God we are essentially saying that His work on the cross wasn’t enough, and therefore we must perform for His acceptance.

In v.30-32 of today's passage we read, "30 So they left Jerusalem and went to Antioch where they gathered the church and gave them the letter. 31 When they read it, they were very happy because of the encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said many things to encourage the believers and make them stronger."

So, Paul, Barnabas and the two men sent by the leaders in Jerusalem traveled back to where all the trouble began in Antioch. Instead of having a dilemma to resolve, they returned with an answer from the council concerning the question raised earlier by the legalistic Judaizers. Having gathered everyone together in Antioch, the letter was read. As a result, the believers in Antioch were subsequently relieved and encouraged because it wasn't rules and regulations they had signed up for. No, they had signed up for a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

What we learn from this is that the answers we seek are always found in the Word of God. The outcome rendered here is that believers in Christ have the freedom in Christ to disagree in areas of the non-essentials. What was clear was that the only thing that gains a sinner the righteousness of Christ is his faith in His finished work on the cross. This in fact was reinforced by the two visitors from Jerusalem, Judas and Silas who strengthened these young Gentile believers through their learned theology. They had been chosen by the leaders in Jerusalem because they excelled at their calling. They excelled because they were more defined by God's Word.

In addition, these young Gentile believers had a freedom that the Jews under the Law of Moses had not previously possessed. The Jews who had trusted the Lord Jesus as their Messiah would soon learn that the very same freedom the cross granted to the Gentile believers was also given to them. Once we have learned that the Lord Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirements of God as communicated through the Law of Moses on our behalf, it is then that we will grow in this freedom that dispels our fears and our insecurities. All who believed on the Lord Jesus as our Savior have been made righteous before God through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Himself.

Judas and Silas gave the believers in Antioch encouragement that the message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, apart from any works of the law, is biblical. They encouraged the church to stand fast in their faith and even built them up with additional words, thus strengthening them. At the very heart of our spiritual survival is the strengthening of our faith in the God of the Bible. Our faith is our heart's ability to see God. We move into error not by design, we move into error due to our lack of being defined by God's Word. Christian growth is not automatic, it has to be intentional. In our attempt to bolster our faith in the Lord Jesus, our goal must not only be informational, our goal must be relational. When we come to His Word, we must come to Him, otherwise our hearts will not be engaged with the Lord as it should. It is the lack of engagement of our hearts with God that leads us astray.

In Jude 21 we read, "Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

The word "keep" is an imperative, it means to remain in the sphere of God’s love. Jude was not saying, "Stay saved." That would be crazy since God does the saving. Jude was saying keep uppermost in your thoughts the love of God for you. It means to remind ourselves, frequently, that God loves us on the basis of who He is and not what we do. His love is unmerited and unconditional. And, if we operate out of His love for us, our security in Him will soar. Keeping ourselves in God's love means living our lives out of the fact that we have arrived in the eyes of God solely through the merit of the Lord Jesus. As a result, we will not waste our time trying to earn God's favor because the Lord Jesus earned it for us fully at the cross.

In v.33-35 of today's passage we read, "33 After some time Judas and Silas were sent off in peace by the believers, and they went back to those who had sent them, 34 but Silas decided to remain there. 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch and, along with many others, preached the Good News and taught the people the message of the Lord."

After their main goal of encouraging and strengthening the believers in Antioch had been fully met, Judas and Silas traveled back to Jerusalem with the blessings of all in the Antioch church. After having been sent back to Jerusalem, it appears Silas returned to Antioch a few days later. Going unnoticed here were the suggestions the leaders in Jerusalem made to these brand new born-again Gentile believers in Antioch. Although they were relieved that they didn't need to adhere to all of the laws given in the Law of Moses, especially circumcision, the Gentile believers had been encouraged in their walk with the Lord. And, when we walk with the Lord, we will do things in a way that brings Him glory. This means that we sometimes abstain from things that causes others to stumble. Not that we have to but because we want to. This is what grace does to our hearts.

In Galatians 2:11-14 we read, "Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, 'If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?'"

While all of this was unfolding behind the scenes there was some disagreement between Paul and Peter. We get this idea from what we read in Galatians. In Galatians 2:9 we read, "And when James, Cephas (Peter), and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised."

When Peter came to Antioch he enjoyed the freedom that came from faith in Christ. This enabled him to eat meals with Gentiles, perhaps enjoying certain foods which he had never eaten before. But then, something happened. He at some point withdrew from fellowship with the Gentiles because he was unsure if the Jews who came from James would accept him as he did not follow the dietary restrictions of the Law of Moses. This is confusing given that Peter had spoken boldly concerning the conversion of the Gentiles and that they were not required to adhere to the Law of Moses for God's acceptance and the acceptance of other believers. It seems that Peter backtracked from this position and that was the source of Paul's conflict with him. 

Since this happened to Peter so quickly, that he had to be confronted by Paul for his theological inconsistencies, it can happen to any of us if we allow our guard to come down. We must, as the Scriptures implore us, stand firm on the freedom of the gospel, not allowing anyone to bring us under the yoke of the Law of Moses or any other form of legalism. Our ministry to others depends greatly on our understanding of our freedom in Christ and we must proclaim it strongly for the benefit of others, especially the young in the faith.

Acts 15:22-29

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22 The apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to send some of their men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, who were respected by the believers. 23 They sent the following letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers. To all the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings! 24 We have heard that some of our group have come to you and said things that trouble and upset you. But we did not tell them to do this. 25 We have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 people who have given their lives to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 So we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things. 28 It has pleased the Holy Spirit that you should not have a heavy load to carry, and we agree. You need to do only these things: 29 Stay away from any food that has been offered to idols, eating any animals that have been strangled, and blood, and any kind of sexual sin. If you stay away from these things, you will do well. Good-bye. ~ Acts 15:22-29

Today, we continue our study of Acts 15 where Paul and Barnabas are in Jerusalem meeting with the leaders of the church there concerning the role the Law of Moses should play in the lives of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. This discussion was prompted by the success that Paul and Barnabas had while on their first missionary journey. The success was with those Gentiles in the cities that they visited in Asia Minor known today as Turkey. To this point Peter, Barnabas, Paul and James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus, have spoken. As a result, these leaders decided to write the Gentiles a letter with some suggestions for them to follow. Those suggestions were delineated in the letter that they sent.

In v.22 of today's passage we read, "The apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to send some of their men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, who were respected by the believers."

After the proposal made by James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus was met with favor among all in the meeting, they decided to write a letter to the new Gentile believers. On the heels of its approval the church in Jerusalem decided to send a delegation to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. Judas Barsabbas and Silas were chosen by the leaders in the church at Jerusalem due to their example of following the Lord and leading others to do the same. They sent Judas and Silas in order to confirm their words to those in Antioch. This prevented the legalistic Judaizers from trying to undermine Paul and Barnabas and to stir up further trouble. 

In v.23-27 of today's passage we read, "23 They sent the following letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers. To all the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings! 24 We have heard that some of our group have come to you and said things that trouble and upset you. But we did not tell them to do this. 25 We have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 people who have given their lives to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 So we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things."

This letter sent to the believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia is the oldest such letter within the church. With the delivery of this letter, we learn there was no requirement for the Gentiles to observe the Law of Moses in order to be saved. This is very important to understand because we all know that a faith that requires work is just religion. The real issue is not what we do not do, the real issue is what we do. The most important thing we do on a day by day basis is to worship God. This is so important because we know that what we worship defines us.

The phrase "trouble and upset you" is used only once in the Bible. Originally, it meant "to dismantle." From this word comes the idea "to lay waste" or "to ravage." The idea was that the minds of the Gentile converts were being turned upside down and throwing them into confusion like a dismantled house. Again, the key to our lives in Christ is that we worship Him first and to make decisions out of the priority of His will in our lives. Where there had been a certain measure of order and harmony from the teaching of Barnabas and Paul, there was suddenly upheaval and turmoil because of the false message of these legalist judaizers. If the teaching of the legalists were true, it would mean that salvation is conditional and up to the good works of each person. As a result, there would be no security in our trust placed in the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. It would have relegated the cross as not enough. 

The decision from the leaders in Jerusalem was unanimous and if it had not been it would have been stated and explained. Since this was not the case, it is fully apparent that what is recorded here is exactly what God wanted. So, for the time being, the church was given its instructions and they were to observe what was taught concerning circumcision and their observance of the Law of Moses.

In v.28-29 of today's passage we read, "28 It has pleased the Holy Spirit that you should not have a heavy load to carry, and we agree. You need to do only these things: 29 Stay away from any food that has been offered to idols, eating any animals that have been strangled, and blood, and any kind of sexual sin. If you stay away from these things, you will do well. Good-bye."

The letter from the leaders in Jerusalem noted that there were "these things" that the Gentiles were to do. The first of those things was they were to not eat the meat of animals sacrificed to idols. If they were to eat meat offered to an idol it meant they were participating in that false worship. This teaching has been amended by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 8 and 2 Corinthians 10 where he explained it is not wrong to eat meat offered to idols because idols at the end of the day are nothing. In his instructions, the Apostle Paul points us to our conscience. If one’s conscience is defiled because of the idol, he should not eat the meat. In addition, if it would bother another’s conscience, he should not eat the meat. Otherwise, the meat was perfectly acceptable to eat. 

The second of "these things" was to stay away from eating any animals that had been strangled. The issue here was the Gentiles were to give no offense to the Jews who were in the practice of bleeding out meat that would be consumed according to the teaching in the Law of Moses. Again, the issue was whether they were causing themselves or others to stumble in their walk with the Lord.

The third of "these things" was to not drink blood offered to idols. As the life is in the blood, such a practice would grant some measure of power to the idols. Again, I find it most instructive that throughout the world, the shedding of blood has almost universally been considered a means of atoning for sin. But, it is only the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that is effectual for the atonement of sin. 

The fourth of "these things" was to abstain from sexual immorality. The Gentiles didn’t just offer food to their gods, there was a lot of sex involved in their temple worship. They had temple prostitutes, male and female. In their culture they regarded sex as a god. But, like all things of this world, sex does not yield lasting satisfaction. In fact, immoral sex renders guilt and hatred in the hearts of those involved. 

God created sex in order to render an ever growing bond between a husband and wife. When we neglect God’s design for sex, we settle for lust rather than true love. God designed sex to be best enjoyed when it is based on something other than appearance or performance. He meant for it to be based on a commitment that inculcates a growing trust for one another in an increasing way. The world's distorted understanding of love is nothing but selfish pleasure, a passion that moves from lover to lover and fantasy to fantasy. But this sort of pleasure really does not fulfill nor does it actually bring satisfaction to our souls. Whereas God's love yields holiness in us, worldly passion yields in our souls something akin to Swiss cheese. C.S. Lewis once aptly said, "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

Acts 15:12-21

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12 Then the whole group became quiet. They listened to Paul and Barnabas tell about all the miracles and signs that God did through them among the people. 13 After they finished speaking, James said, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has told us how God showed his love for those people. For the first time he is accepting from among them a people to be his own. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this too: 16 'After these things I will return. The kingdom of David is like a fallen tent. But I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up. 17 Then those people who are left alive may ask the Lord for help, and the other nations that belong to me, says the Lord, who will make it happen. 18 And these things have been known for a long time.' (Amos 9:11–12) 19 "So I think we should not bother the other people who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter to them telling them these things: Stay away from food that has been offered to idols (which makes it unclean), any kind of sexual sin, eating animals that have been strangled, and blood. 21 They should do these things, because for a long time in every city the law of Moses has been taught. And it is still read in the synagogue every Sabbath day." ~ Acts 15:12-21

Today, we return to our study of Acts 15 where the leaders of the church had all gathered in Jerusalem in order to discuss the role of the Law of Moses in the life of the believer. While on their first missionary journey into Asia Minor Paul and Barnabas had been badgered by those who believed that the Gentiles who had heard the gospel and believed on the Lord Jesus as their Savior had to be circumcised in order to be accepted by them and by God. This meeting rendered a verdict on the role the Law of Moses plays in the life of the believer in the Lord Jesus.

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "Then the whole group became quiet. They listened to Paul and Barnabas tell about all the miracles and signs that God did through them among the people."

Previously the Apostle Peter completed his words in support of Paul’s position that the Gentiles were not to be placed under the yoke of the Law of Moses. The group that listened to the Apostle Peter explain what had occurred in Caesarea also listened to Paul and Barnabas in stone cold silence. Listening is different than hearing. Listening goes a step beyond hearing and it enables understanding. This explains why it is often a must for someone to go through a very hard trial in order to believe in the Lord Jesus. It is most often the case that our pain enables us to listen better because it is only when we are in pain that we are able to evaluate with eternity's values in view.

Peter had previously communicated that the Law of Moses was not a means to forgiveness of sin. He came upon this truth through his own failure in the Garden of Gethsemane and while at the High Priest's courtyard. Through even the questioning by the Lord Jesus of his love for Him, Peter admitted on the shore of the Sea of Galilee that his love for the Lord was brotherly love not unconditional love. Our willingness to obey the Lord is critical to listening to Him speak to us. Peter came to understand that God used the Law of Moses to point the people to the Lord Jesus who is the fulfillment of the Law. It was through the Law of Moses that God spoke but most of the Jews only heard Him. They failed to listen to Him revealing their intention with God from the beginning. Their intentions were merely self-serving. This prevented their understanding. Thus, they failed to understand that it is in the wilderness that we learn to listen to God best.

While the people remained silent they listened to Barnabas and Paul give their account about how God had worked among the Gentiles. Barnabas is mentioned first here because he had a better relationship with the church in Jerusalem than did Paul. The church in Jerusalem listened more intently to Barnabas due to their previous relationship. Thus, Barnabas was highlighted first here at this meeting. Barnabas and Paul emphasized how God was working through their ministry by performing miracles among the Gentiles. They communicated they were merely the instruments through whom these Gentiles believed in the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

In v.13-19 of today's passage we read, "13 After they finished speaking, James said, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has told us how God showed his love for those people. For the first time he is accepting from among them a people to be his own. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this too: 16 'After these things I will return. The kingdom of David is like a fallen tent. But I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up. 17 Then those people who are left alive may ask the Lord for help, and the other nations that belong to me, says the Lord, who will make it happen. 18 And these things have been known for a long time.' (Amos 9:11–12) 19 "So I think we should not bother the other people who are turning to God."

After Peter and Barnabas and Paul addressed the assembly of believers that day, we are left with the implication that James the half brother of the Lord Jesus was the leader of the Church at Jerusalem. As the assembly fell silent listening to James, his words revealed his knowledge of the Scriptures. James pointed out that the words of the prophets confirmed that God had found a way for the Gentiles to begin to hear and to listen to Him. God chose to insert Himself in the narrative of sinful and hopeless man by sending His Son to atone for that which had deafened us to God, our sin. The word translated "nations" refers us to other ethnicities other than Jewish. Underscored here is that God through His Son reached out to the Gentiles in a manner similar to how He had long ago reached out to the Jews. 

Here, James quoted Amos when he said that God would rebuild the ruins of David's kingdom. Of course, Amos referred to the coming Millennium. The context in the book of Amos reveals God was not finished speaking to the people of Israel. He had not finished because all of His promises made to Israel had not yet been fulfilled. This is one major point behind the Millennium which will occur after the coming Tribulation. Despite Israel’s many failings, the Lord will never reject them as His people. Likewise, despite our many failings, the Lord will never reject us because of what He has done on our behalf through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

With the reestablishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 the Word of the Lord has come to fruition exactly as the Lord told us that it would. This underscores the greatness of our God who saves us despite ourselves. Whether we like the Jewish people or not, something much greater is at stake in the world today. That something is the integrity of God and His promise that He would never fully reject His people, Israel. He will bring one third of them into the New Covenant during the Tribulation. 

In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, "20 Instead, we should write a letter to them telling them these things: Stay away from food that has been offered to idols (which makes it unclean), any kind of sexual sin, eating animals that have been strangled, and blood. 21 They should do these things, because for a long time in every city the law of Moses has been taught. And it is still read in the synagogue every Sabbath day."

Having established the fact that God would save the Gentiles and that they would not be required to obey the Law of Moses to be acceptable to God and to other believers, James suggested they write a letter telling the Gentiles to refrain from food that had been offered to idols. He also highlighted they should abstain from sexual sin which is often associated with idolatry. James also suggested the Gentiles not eat meat that had not been bled out and to not drink blood which was associated with idolatry. Interestingly, from the beginning of time the shedding of blood has been universally considered a means of atoning for sin.  

The suggestions James offered that day in Jerusalem did not address the issue of salvation but of life within the church. His suggestions weren't about justification but of that of sanctification. The Gentiles who had come to Christ were given these prohibitions as a means of evangelizing the Jews because the Law of Moses would be read in the synagogues every Sabbath. This is one of the main points of our sanctification, that as God gradually changes us from the inside out we will have a believable testimony with Him before others. James then went on to give the Gentiles a reasonable set of standards to live by so that those Jews who were under the law could see that Christians lived in a reasonable manner while not being burdened with the innumerable laws found within the Law of Moses. James and the others had realized that it is only the Lord Jesus Christ who could measure up to the Law of Moses. And, since He is the only Perfect One, He is the Only One who can be our Savior.