The Word of the Lord, and yes, some conflict...

Strengthening the Churches

(Acts 15:30-41, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, September 23, 2012)

[30] So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. [31] And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. [32] And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. [33] And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. [35] But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas, accompanied by two representatives of the Jerusalem church, were sent forth by the apostles, elders, and the whole church with a letter that they believed to be the answer to a very difficult problem in the church. Jewish believers in Jesus Christ were concerned about pagan influences that would come into the church as non-Jews came into the church.

The solution of some unauthorized missionaries from the Jerusalem church was that all the Gentiles become Jews. This was rejected by Peter, James, and others in Jerusalem as unbiblical and against the obvious move of God who was at the forefront of displaying the clear fact to all that many non-Jews had been accepted by Him as sincere followers of His Son.

This did not mean that the Jerusalem church was unconcerned about the problems that might come from an uncritical acceptance of pagan ways. The letter that they sent by the hands of trusted emissaries directed the Gentile believers to abstain from practices that were abhorrent to the Jewish world and were associated with the pagan world view, in particular, participating in idolatrous sacrifices, and the rejection of Jewish sexual morality.

How real were these fears? We only need to read 1 Corinthians to see that these very issues had to be addressed in detail many years later by the apostle Paul, since the churches in Corinth began to have a view of Christian freedom that needed to be strongly condemned, lest the whole vibrant church in that region be destroyed by licentious arrogance and immorality. 1 Corinthians is the proof that these concerns that were addressed in Acts 15 were very real.

How would this letter be received in the places where the other solution, all Gentiles becoming circumcised Jews, had been a possible solution to the problem? The first test of the Jerusalem Council came in Antioch in Syria, the vibrant church that had originally send Paul and Barnabas on their great missionary adventure. The result was greatly encouraging. Calm was restored and the teaching ministry continued without the unnecessary distraction of unanswered fears.

What was the content of that teaching ministry? We have to believe that it was in accord with the earlier preaching of Paul and others that we have seen in Acts, and the preaching that we will see in the rest of this book. Verse 35 simply says these important words of summary: They were teaching and preaching “the Word of the Lord.” What does that mean? When the resurrected Lord Himself taught two men on the road to Emmaus, He “interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” That is precisely what Peter, Stephen, Philip, and Paul have been doing in the earlier chapters of Acts. The eyewitness testimony of the apostles is shown to be the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament had been preparing the Jewish world to embrace for centuries. The Suffering Servant Messiah had come, and He had brought in the new Kingdom of God with His death and resurrection. Such a message does not fit with the lifestyle of arrogance and immorality that would naturally flow from worshiping the gods of the Greek and Roman world. There would be a new way of humble love that would take root in the churches growing all over Syria and Galatia, and the old way of the gods would be seriously challenged by the new way of the King who died on a cross and rose from the dead.

[36] And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” [37] Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. [38] But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. [39] And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, [40] but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. [41] And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Knowing that this Christian message that they preached and the accompanying practical instruction from the Jerusalem Council was just what the church needed at this critical time, Paul and Barnabas were eager to retrace their steps and visit the churches that God had started in Cyprus and Asia Minor. This would be an important mission. Some would still be pushing circumcision, including Jews that rejected Jesus entirely. Others would ignore all restraint, and these young churches might be filled with the pagan culture that was so normal to so many Gentiles. They needed to strengthen the churches with the Word of the Lord.

But a problem arose between Paul and Barnabas concerning Barnabas' relative John Mark. You will remember that this Mark, who is most likely the author of Mark's gospel, had been a companion of these men through their earlier journeys, but had abandoned them before they ever got to Galatia, returning to Jerusalem. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, and Paul thought that it would be better not to take him along. There was such a serious disagreement on this strategic and relational matter that Paul went overland toward Galatia with Silas, and Barnabas went back to Cyprus with John Mark.

Jesus had said, “In this world you will have tribulation.” Some of the troubles that we face will be disagreements like this one, even between brothers. One may go one way and one another. When that happens, do not panic. Trust the Lord through that and every other trial.

Be careful not to give yourself over to your imagination. Do not invent things about one another and decide that your guesses are facts. Remember the message that you believe, the Word of the Lord that strengthens the churches. The Word of God is not just for other people out there. It is for you and I too, even through sharp disagreements that may include one sin or another affecting the way that we think about each other.

Perhaps Paul had lost confidence in John Mark. Maybe, but maybe not. Maybe he just felt that he needed some more time growing up before he went off on another journey of unknown duration. Do not hold a grudge. Do not impugn motives that only God can know for sure. Try to think the best of others. Pray for the well-being of others, even if a sharp disagreement causes a separation for a time. Paul wrote to the Colossians about Mark some years later: “If he comes to you, welcome him.” We're are happy to read those good words. Remember the King of the church, and do not make too much of personal disagreements between those for whom He died.

1. Why was the result of the Jerusalem Council so encouraging to the church in Antioch?

2. What do we know about the heritage and condition of that church?

3. How did John Mark fit into the larger history of the New Testament?

4. What is success supposed to look and feel like in the church of Jesus Christ?

OT Passage: Genesis 37:11, 37:20, 39:1, 40:23, 41:1, 41:53-57