Click here for the Acts 15:12-21 PODCAST
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.
