Acts 15
1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Here we have some know it all kenites coming with the traditions of humans. Instead of listening, they want to put you in bondage. Same thing is happening today with know it all people. They have been "told" you must be baptized to be saved instead of studying Gods Word and seeing that it is the blood of Christ that has saved us. It was His sacrifice that gives us life.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
The kenties wanted Paul and Barnabas to go to Jerusalem and speak with those apostles within that church.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Paul and Barnabas stopped by every church on their way to Jerusalem, giving the great news of all those that have turned from the world and to The Lord.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Paul and Barnabas entered into Jerusalem and told all those there of the wonderful things God has done.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Hold on! There are leaders in the church claiming to be believers of Christ, but are preaching people must be circumcised? Nothing new today either. So many preach things that have nothing to do with God's Word, putting people in bondage with their traditions of humans. Some don't even believe in God, but they do a pay check. Don't let humans come between you and God. Always check them out in The Word.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
This is referring to Cornelius and the vision of that sheet as we read in Acts 10 and 11, were The Word would be given to everyone and many would change their hearts.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;
After hearing The Word they changed their hearts just as it does for all us that believe. †
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Condition! "purifying their hearts by faith" it won't be purified if you don't believe. Without faith, it would just continue to be of the world.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
These kenites want to burden them with having the law for their salvation instead of the blood of Christ. The law can't save us †
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
We have ALL been given that favor of the Lord. All we have to do is BELIEVE and walk in that path He laid out for us.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Paul and Barnabas had the ears of the crowd.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did vi.0+?sit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
James is talking about Simon Peter, about how he was brought to preach to the Gentiles and how many were saved in the name of Christ Jesus.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
God had given us word through the prophets hundreds of years prior, that Christ would come and bring us life everlasting through His sacrifice.
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
James is quoting Amos 9:11-12 Today, these are the Christian nations. Christian = Christ like.
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
The Lord wants ALL those souls that have been placed in this flesh to choose Him. That is what this life is all about.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
God knows from the beginning to the end of this age, we have the choice to be a part of His life or satan and the worlds.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
The Gentiles that accept Christ do not need to be circumcised as Israel, they're under the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ saves us that accept Him.
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Once we give ourselves to The Lord, we should turn from the ways of the world. This is the problem of those that turn way from God. They love the world more.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
There was once only The Torah = first 5 Books of God's Word. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
They wouldn't put Gentiles in bondage to the strict laws that bound Israel. They wouldn't trap them in the traditions of humans the kenites preached.
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
These brethren are all the Gentiles that have converted.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
There are no more blood ordinances. Christ is The Way and The ONLY Way to forgiveness of sins. Even now there are many putting traditions of humans into accepting Him. They want you to take a bath or recite their acceptance ritual chants.
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
James is telling those in Jerusalem's Church that they're of one mind and have chosen our beloved brothers Barnabas and Paul to bring this letter to you.
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as these, there are a few that will stand up today and speak The Truth of God, announcing they are of Christ Jesus. These will stand against evil now and to come.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Judas and Silas are going to witness to them the same things.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
The Holy Spirit told them the law can't save you, only through the blood of Christ, that sacrifice for all that believe.
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
Paul and Barnabas delivers the letter from the Church in Jerusalem to the church at Antioch.
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
The Church in Antioch rejoices because of the things they had been fighting over could now have a ruling for their conduct.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
Judas and Silas back up everything that was been said in The Truth.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
Silas would stay there and continue to teach.
35 Paul also and Barnabas
continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many
others also.
The True Word will rid the confusion and dissension
within any Church. It's very important that you study for yourself because of
what is being planted in churches now. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.
36 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.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
It was John Mark that started out with Paul and Barnabas on their spreading The Word. Barnabas wants to take Mark with him as he continues his work.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
Paul and Barnabas are going to split-up so they can spread The Word throughout.
39 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;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
So we now have Paul and Silas together going to Syria and Cilicia were Barnabas and Mark going to Cyprus, The Word growing from this.