Acts 16:6-15

Paul and his companions went to Phrygia and Galatia. Paul clearly had desired to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit stopped prevented him from doing so. We can sometimes get ourselves in a real tizz over making the right or wrong decision about something. While it is obviously best to make the best decision, if we do make the wrong decision the Holy Spirit is perfectly capable of redirecting us. The thing we need to be truly on our guard against is having a hard heart, for then we will not be able to hear the Holy Spirit.

Paul received a vision of a man of Macedonia, urging him to come and help them. It is perfectly normal for God to communicate via visions and dreams. At the same time we need to note that it was not used frequently in Acts, but was used on a number of occasions. Moreover, the dream tied in with the clear mission that Paul knew that God had given to him.

So Paul went Philippi, part of Macedonia. Paul often accused of being a misogynist, but this really is a load of nonsense with precious little Biblical evidence to support it. Here we see Paul speaking to the women who had gathered where they were. One of these was Lydia.The Lord opened her heart to receive the gospel, and she became an important part of the spread of the gospel.

Acts 16:1-5

They came to Derbe and Lystra, where Paul first became acquainted with Timothy. Timothy must have been very young at this stage, and was to work very closely with Paul. Timothy's mother was Jewish, but his father was Greek. Even at this early stage, people spoke well of Timothy. It is important that we have a good reputation amongst those we live along side.

Given the big debate over circumcision, it might seem surprising that Paul had Timothy circumcised. The difference is the reason for circumcision. Paul was neither for nor against circumcision itself (Gal 5:6), what he was vehemently against was circumcision being seen as necessary for salvation. He had Timothy circumcised so that there would be no unnecessary obstacles to the spread of the gospel. It is important that we recognise the kernel of arguments and disputes, and fight over only what matters, not over what does not matter.

As they travelled they spread the news of the decision from Jerusalem, and the various churches were encouraged and strengthened.

Acts 15:22-40

In order to demonstrate the unity between Jerusalem and the Gentile churches, some men from Jerusalem were sent with Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch. One of these, Silas, was later to accompany Paul on his missionary journeys.

The Jerusalem church also sent a letter. This emphasised that those demanding circumcision had no authority from the Jerusalem church. It also warmly supports Paul and Barnabas. It then reiterates the decision of the Council.

The outcome pleased the church in Antioch. Note also that the two men, Judas and Silas, sent from Jerusalem were not mere officials, but were prophets. They offered spiritual encouragement as well as their other duties. So the work in Antioch continued to flourish.

Just in case anyone thinks that Acts is an attempt to gloss over differences and offer a rose-tinted view of the early church, Luke immediately describes a serious disagreement between Paul and Barnabas. There were many good things about the early church, but they were all weak human beings like the rest of us. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them on their next journey, but Paul disagreed, because John had failed to complete the last trip.

They could find no agreement, so went their separate ways. It should be noted that both Mark and Barnabas receive warm praise in Paul's letters. We need to be realistic. Disagreements will happen, and may be painful, but we must not let them lead to festering resentment.

Acts 15:5-21

The people who were demanding circumcision belonged to the Pharisees. This shows how far the gospel was reaching within Judaism, but also that when we get saved we still carry a lot of "baggage" from our past. As noted in the previous post, we need to appreciate how deep and strong was the attachment to Moses. The Mosaic Law was central to Judaism, and so it is no surprise that many still considered it central. We should also remember that the Law was given to Moses by God.

After long discussions Peter addresses the people. See now how crucial it was that Peter had his revelation and experience with Cornelius. Although Paul was going to be the primary instrument in taking the gospel to the Gentiles, Peter had a crucial role as well. Peter refers back to the Cornelius incident. He then points out that the Jews themselves were not particularly good at keeping the Law, so why burden the Gentiles with something they themselves could not carry? In his letters Paul would put this in a theological context. Peter declares that it is by grace and faith that people are saved, and we are saved "just as we are".

Paul and Barnabas then give testimony of the many things they had seen and experienced during their missionary journeys.

Next James stands up, and puts things in a Biblical context quoting from Amos 9:11,12. He agrees with Peter and Paul, but does say that the Gentiles should abstain from sexual immorality, and eating some forbidden foods. The first of these makes perfect sense to us (though not to the world!), but the food stuff seems a bit unnecessary, and indeed Paul does address this issue in some of his letters.

See how the debate went. A key theological issue was being decided, but an awful lot of the argument centred around experience, the experience of Peter and of Paul. James then supplied a little theology, and in time Paul would supply a whole lot more. But note also that the experience was largely the experience of what God had done and was doing, not someone's subjective view of what happened. Theology and experience must go together.

We might even say that the food requirements were not really necessary and only muddied the waters, but there was a need to both welcome the Gentiles and to allow for the sensibilities of the Jews. Compromise itself is not bad, it is a matter of knowing what to compromise on.

Acts 15:1-4

The Council of Jerusalem was one of the most important events in the early history of the church. Theology and doctrine do matter, and it was vital that the church got this right in for it to continue to grow. The issue at stake was whether or not Gentile believers needed to be circumcised, and the issue crops up many times in Paul's letters.

To most of us it seems a silly matter, but we need to remember that the church grew out of Judaism, and that the Old Testament explicitly commanded that Jews be circumcised. So if someone was to be a full member of God's family then they needed to be circumcised, or so the argument of some went.

Paul and Barnabas were strongly against this. The issue erupted in Antioch and elsewhere, and it was decided to send a party, including Paul and Barnabas, to Jerusalem to get things sorted out with the apostles and elders.

Even on their way they told many people about the new believers, and it gladdened many people. In Jerusalem the church and its leaders welcomed them. Luke is stressing that the amen Jerusalem church was in favour of the eventual outcome.

Exodus 12:31-50

Pharaoh is finally completely desperate and calls for Moses and Aaron. At last he agrees to their demand and tells them to taking everything with them. He even asks them to bless him, though this could be a sarcastic comment.

The Egyptians as a whole were all for this and urged them to go as quickly as possible. The Israelites had been in captivity for many years, but when the release came it came quickly. There can be situations in our own lives where we seem to go for ages without any breakthrough, but when it does come it will do so quickly.

The Israelites left with the unleavened bread, and with silver and gold from the Egyptians. The Israelites left, and were also joined by many other people. Perhaps these had been in slavery as well and were taking their chances.

God gives Moses commands on how the nation is to celebrate the passover in years to come. The event was so important that the nation was to continue to celebrate the day. Similarly it can be good to remember the day you got saved, as it is the day your new life started.

Exodus 12:1-30

In the previous chapter God has said the Israelites would be saved, but they had to do something in order to gain that salvation. In the same way, God has declared salvation on the cross and resurrection, but we need to believe in order to take advantage of that salvation.

"This month is to be the first month". The Passover was to mark the founding of the nation. In the same way, when we believe we are born again, it is the start of a new life. Each family was to take a lamb, so each person had to appropriate the protection of the blood for themselves. They were to daub the blood on the doorways, and to eat the meat. Moreover, the meat was to be eaten in haste. 

Notice that there are no priests involved in this. Similarly, the cross and your faith is all that is needed to appropriate the benefits of the cross. 

That night every first born child and animal would be killed. This is a terrible event, but the blood would protect the Israelites. Moreover, the people were to commemorate this day for future generations.

And so it happened that the angel of death passed over Egypt.