Throughout it’s history, leaders of the church have met to settle doctrinal issues (what the Bible teaches) and the same is true here. The rapid progress of the Gospel among the Gentiles presented Jewish believers with a serious problem. Not whether or not Gentiles could be saved but did they have to adhere to the law of Moses and be circumcised? This is what is discussed in this chapter.
We read that P&B got into it with some Jewish peeps who were teaching that a person couldn’t be saved unless they were circumcised. So the church in Antioch sends P&B, along with some other believers to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles & elders about this. Side note – take notice that as they traveled to this meeting, they continued to share the gospel of Jesus!
They arrive and after much discussion, Peter stands up and speaks. He shares how God is accepting Gentiles & giving them His Holy Spirit just like He did the Jewish believers – by GRACE thru FAITH! We then read, “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." James (Jesus’ brother) speaks up, quotes the OT & expresses that God’s plan has always been to save Gentiles too. This council agrees and sends a letter back with P&B and some of their own men to the leaders in Antioch explaining just that. They gather the church there, read the letter and all “were glad for its encouraging message.” P&B then stick around and do more evangelism & discipleship!
The final portion of this chapter kicks off Paul’s second missionary journey. They decide to go back to the peeps they’ve shared Christ with and see how they are doing – again, more evangelism & discipleship! But it kicks off on a sour note. Barnabas wants to take John Mark along and Paul is like “no way, he deserted us” – which he had (13:13). It got so heated that they split and went their separate ways. Barnabas & John Mark went to Cypress, Paul & Silas left for Syria & Cilicia. So who was right? Are we shocked at all that Barnabas – Joe Encourager – once again sticks up for someone?!~! So who was right? I have no idea! God knows, and I’m ok with that. Hey, maybe both of them were right – or wrong?! Regardless, the Word of God was continuing to spread! And by the way, later on Paul again sees John Mark as vital (Colossians 4:10).
SO WHAT?!
*ALL believers are called to be able to know and handle God’s Word (1 Tim 4:16, 2 Tim 2:15). How about you? How about me? Are we IN our Bible enough so that we can both know truth and spot error? Keep up with our “260 in 2012” and it will help you to do so!
*We took note that Paul & Barnabas continued to minister as they went along. It wasn’t a “job” for them it had become their lifestyle. How about us? The call to “go and make disciples” means “as you go.” I think when we first begin to share Jesus and to serve Jesus it can be like a “job.” But the more & more we are involved in those ministries and others, the more and more it becomes a part of us! Let’s not be so focused on the destination that we miss out on the journey!
*Ever had the tendency to “add” to God’s grace? I mean, the feeling that if we read our Bible more or pray more or serve more or whatever more, that Jesus will accept us more?~! If you have put your trust & faith in what Jesus alone did for you on the cross, you could not be more accepted by God! When making Jesus known, don’t get sidetracked on drinking, smoking, cursing, baptism, etc… but keep bringing it back to Jesus. Let’s not add to what it takes to be saved, let’s share the truth, the Gospel truth and nothing but the Gospel truth!
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