Today we’re reading Acts 15 together. Below are a couple things to think about:
- This chapter starts with a debate about whether they should circumcise the Gentiles. I bet the Gentiles were very concerned as to how this conversation would end. Some Jewish leaders were saying that if these new non-jew converts were not circumcised (as was their custom that God set up) then they could not be saved.
- After a long conversation Peter stands up and retells the vision God gave him that showed God was accepting the Gentiles. Since God said he accepted them Peter said they shouldn’t force the Gentiles to be bound to old Jewish law.
- Afterwards Paul and Barnabas stood up and confirmed all the signs and miracles God was doing among the Gentiles proved that God had indeed chosen them.
- Then the apostles sent some men with an official letter to the Gentiles letting them know the decision the leaders had come to. (Insert huge sigh of relief by all the male Gentiles.)
- At the end of the chapter we see Paul and Barnabas split ways and take new helpers with them as they went.
The great circumcision debate must have been pretty strange. In the end the apostles said; “We believe that it’s through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” and so we should not add to that for the Gentiles either. James said they shouldn’t make it more difficult for the Gentiles but then he adds an alternative list of things for the Gentiles not to do. This may sound hypocritical but many scholars believe that James’ list was a list of common pagan religious practices that the Gentiles were doing that would confuse others of what God they worshipped. With this in mind it is understandable why James would want them to follow these new “rules.” These may sound like insane arguments to us today but they were a very big deal to the early church. God’s welcoming of the non-Jews into the church threw many of the Jews off and they couldn’t understand doing things in a new way. Yet, that’s exactly what God was doing; showing the world that there was a new way into a right relationship with him and it was through his son Jesus.
Do you understand the Jewish people not being able to understand the change at first? What side of the discussion would you have been on; keep things the same or welcome a new way? Do you have a problem with change today? If so, does that hinder your relationship with God? What are some things you need to change to make your walk with God better?
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