What Made The Church In Antioch Rejoice?

Tom:

This is our Understanding the Scriptures segment, we’re in the Book of Acts, Chapter 15.Dave, I believe we left off at Acts Chapter 15, Verse 30, so I will read that.“So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch:and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:”(and of course, the epistle that they are referring to came from those who gathered at the council under James, and they were given certain information with regard to the council’s judgment with regard to whether they needed to come under the law, under circumcision)

Dave:

Whether the Gentiles needed to come under the law.This was the Gentile church in Antioch.

Tom:

And Verse 31:“Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.”

Dave:

Because the apostles and elders have met in Jerusalem and have concluded, Gentiles are not to be brought under the law.Salvation is through faith in Christ, not by works of righteousness that we have done.Nor is the keeping of the law on the part of the Jewish believers, that has nothing to do with salvation either.That’s a subject that comes up often, Tom, and believe it or not, I’ve had to deal with it in a number of ways.Why then did Paul take a vow, and who should keep the Passover?Jews.There were certain things that were legitimate for Jews because of their heritage.It had nothing to do with Gentiles.

Tom:

It had nothing to do with their salvation.

Dave:

Right, absolutely.

Tom:

So Verse 32:“And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.”

Dave:

In other words, these emissaries are heading back to Jerusalem.Tom, I don’t quite understand why the apostles were staying in Jerusalem.Jesus said, Go, and there is no criticism of them here but it’s simply stating a fact.Paul is traveling, I’m not sure how far Peter got.I don’t believe that he got to Rome, but it’s rather interesting that when Paul writes his epistle to the Roman church, he doesn’t mention Peter.He mentions all kinds of people there that he greets by name.So, I’m a bit puzzled why these apostles are all hanging around Jerusalem, seems to be theheadquarters.But anyway, that’s the situation, it just says it for us, and it doesn’t make any further comment.

Tom:

But the Lord does move them when persecution comes.

Dave:

Well, but He moved the---this is after the persecution.It said, they that were, you know, that were scattered, went everywhere preaching the gospel, and yet the apostles somehow managed to hang in there that the church scattered.That’s kind of strange, I don’t fathom it, but anyway, it’s there and so I guess we are going to move on, Tom.

Tom:

Verse 34:“Not withstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.”

Dave:

That’s in Antioch with Paul.

Tom:

Verse 35:“Paul and also Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.”

Dave:

That was a good idea and the thing that they ought to do.Paul wants to get moving again, and they need to go back, they need to continue their discipleship with these people, check up on them.They didn’t have e-mail, they didn’t have radio or anything like that, they are going to have to hoof it to get back to all these places.In fact, they had already done that just before Chapter 15,They went on this journey, and then on the way back to Antioch they are passing by all of these places.People seem to be doing well, and now, Tom---

Tom:

Let me interject this.Sometimes I think about, you know, I get a little impatient, I want to do this, I want to do that, I want this to happen, and certainly we are in a day of technology where we are able to do lots of things that they couldn’t do then.And I think about Paul, and he says, Well, let’s go back, and they didn’t get there instantly, it took a long time and it was an arduous journey for the most part, yet I’m sure he used that time productively.You know, he continually says in his epistles, We pray for you without ceasing.He had a lot of prayer time, a lot of time on the road to take care of these issues and address them.And it’s so important, Dave, I guess that’s why I come under such conviction, because everything needs to begin with prayer.Everything wants to get after something without taking a prerequisite time of seeking the Lord and going to Him in prayer, but it’s so important.

Dave:

Now Tom, we are coming to a part that really troubles me, puzzles me and troubles me because Paul and Barnabas, who have been so mightily used of God, they are going to have a quarrel and they are going to split up.

Tom:

Well, Verse 37, I’ll pick it up there.“And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.But Paul thought it not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

Dave:

Well, you know, Tom, I don’t know that we can take sides here.Maybe the Lord allowed this in order to get two missionary teams, four guys instead of two going out.It is significant, I guess, that later on Paul writes, And bring Mark also, he is profitable for me for the ministry.So apparently, Mark proved himself when he went out with Barnabas, but Paul was not going to take him at that time.He needed to prove himself because he had backed out at one point and returned.And Jesus said, You put your head to the plow, you don’t look back, you’ve got to keep going, and John Mark had violated that.But anyway, Paul was apparently reconciled to him.But that brought Silas into the ministry.Now people can argue, and I’ve heard all the debates about, you know, Paul got out of the will of the Lord at this time, you know, when he went back to Jerusalem, and this and that.Somehow, this Book of Acts follows Paul, it doesn’t follow anybody else.It’s not following Peter, you get a little bit about some of the others, but Paul is the chief apostle, and he says, I labored more abundantly than they all.Now, Paul and Silas---Wow!God is really going to use them powerfully, and so it carries on from there.We don’t follow Barnabas and Mark, but it’s Paul and Silas.I think Paul was in the right at this point, but anyway, God, I’m sure, used Barnabas and Mark.Tom, I---well, I shouldn’t say, I wish I could have sat in on this quarrel---the contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other.It wasn’t a pleasant split in this partnership, and I don’t think the Lord was pleased with that, but I’m sure he worked it out.But it’s a sad day in the history of the church, but God overruled, and He continued to bless Paul’s ministry.So, I’ll hang in there with Paul as the one I think must have been in the right, but anyway, God works it all out to His glory.

Tom:

Yeah, Dave, I agree.I’m amazed at some of the things that Paul does right.He certainly says, Follow me as I follow Christ, but he says, Look at my life, look at the pattern for you to follow, that which you see me do you do and so on and so forth.So, I agree with you, I’ll stick with him on everything.