The document summarizes a debate that arose in the early church over whether Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and follow Jewish law. Some Jews argued that Gentiles must do this to be saved, while Peter and Paul believed salvation came through grace alone. They brought this issue before the leaders in Jerusalem. After Peter and Paul testified about God saving Gentiles, James issued a ruling that Gentiles did not need to follow the Law of Moses but should abstain from idolatry and immorality. The leaders and church agreed to this decision.

1. Some Jews brought controversy to the church:
Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the
Law of Moses, if they would be saved.
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April 11, 2012

2. They took the matter before the apostles
and elders in Jerusalem.
Peter spoke of his mission to Cornelius, a Roman
Centurion, and how God had saved folks there.
Acts 15:10 Nowtherefore why tempt ye God, to put a
yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither
our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we
believe that thru the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
we shall be saved, even as they.
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3. 12 Thenall the multitude kept silence, and gave
audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what
miracles and wonders God had wrought among the
Gentiles by them.
Nobody had really been listening to
Barnabas and Paul until now.
Sometimes we are so busy arguing that we don't
hear another's point of view.
We are thinking about what we will say next.
We saw Sunday that Jesus' disciples often didn't
really hear what He was saying. 3

4. Husband and wife
Women's Conference Pastor and deacon
We need to always listen with focused attention
to the words of other people,
especially when we have a disagreement.
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5. 13 And after they (Barnabas and Paul) had held
their peace, James answered, saying, Men and
brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared
how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take
out of them a people for His Name.
If you don't remember the account that is being
referenced here, read Acts 10 and 11.
God saved the Gentiles and filled them with
the Holy Ghost.
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6. James, evidently the head of the church at Jeru-
salem, then took the floor and issued a summary
statement. He was Jesus’ half brother and wrote the
Epistle of James.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
The phrase at the first is crucial because it affirmed
that Paul and Barnabas were not the first to go to
the Gentiles. As Peter had already said the question
had actually been settled in principle before Paul
and Barnabas went on their first journey.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.
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7. They were rehashing an old issue,
already settled by the Lord.
1 Corinthians 13 (NIV) 4 Love is patient, love is
kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not
proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, (love) keeps no record of wrongs.
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8. 15 And to this agree the Words of the prophets; as it
is written, 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: 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.
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9. 18 Known unto God are all His Works from the
beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence
is, that we trouble not them, which from among the
Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write
unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of
idols, and from fornication, and from things
strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time
hath in every city them that preach him, being read
in the synagogues every Sabbath day.
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10. These moral issues were not just from the Law of
Moses, but were from God,
before the Law of Moses was given.
They were not a yoke upon the necks of
Gentile converts,
But were God's hedge of protection for them.
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11. 22 Thenpleased 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:
These were respected men in the church who would
witness the Truth for Paul and Barnabas.
They would confirm that the letter was really from
the apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem.
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12. There will always be differences of opinion
in the church; it is inevitable.
But we need to work hard to settle any differences
amiably, never allowing malice to enter in.
Let's learn to listen one to another, and then to
hearken to the Word of God.
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