No Small Debate

Acts 15:But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Having completed their first missionary circuit, Barnabas and Paul had returned to their sending church in Syria for a praise report.  The celebration was interrupted by these legalists who were having trouble accepting Gentiles into the people of God.  An answer was needed to this issue once and for all, so the two missionaries went through the areas between Syria and Judea giving their missionary report to those churches as well, then on to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and other Church leaders.  The meetings were conducted in a meaningful and God-honoring way until a unanimous decision was reached. This message joined together Jewish and Gentile Christians with a sense of solidarity and power which made them stronger and able to reach deeper into the world with the Gospel. May we always seek to establish such a strong base of solid doctrine and brotherly love.