Acts 15:22-35

Chris Estes

Acts • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

Acts 15:22–35

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Heading 1Review:

We will get in tonight’s text...

Heading 1Background:

We will get in tonight’s text...

A delegation is sent from Jerusalem to Antioch, some 300 miles or by some estimates a month's journey. This is no small thing, the need to proclaim a true gospel to the most influential church in the region necessitates the effort.

Heading 1Text:

Background:

English Standard Version Chapter 15The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “

All the time we hear of “Fake News”, people questioning the veracity of anything and everything they are being told. Especially if it is not a message they want to hear. You may have even seen the recent NYT piece on “Deep Fake” videos, that technology is getting close to producing a fictionalized news reel that we won’t be able to distinguish as fake w/o the help of technology.We know from Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica that he worries about such false letters:

Background:

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)he suggests that a letter might come from someone, pretending to be him, saying that ‘the day of the Lord’ had arrived. Don’t believe it, he says. Look at my handwriting, and don’t trust a letter without it

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)The question of where something had come from, especially an apparently official document or edict, was often a problem in the ancient world.

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)For many people, this problem was resolved quite simply: a trusted intermediary would carry the letter, and would himself or herself report on the sender’s instructions and vouch for the authenticity of the content. Thus Phoebe is sent to Rome with Paul’s greatest letter; Tychicus, himself originally from Colosse, is sent there with Colossians; and so on.

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)In the present case, with the official letter from James and the Jerusalem church, there was a pressing need to make sure that the letter got through and was properly heard and understood. We know from Galatians that people had been spreading rumours about Paul—that he was really a junior to the Jerusalem apostles, that he had muddled up the message he should have been preaching, that he normally taught that people should be circumcised but had simply missed out that bit of the message when he was in Galatia, and so on. That’s why, in that letter, Paul has to spend such a long time explaining his personal movements and his meetings with the Jerusalem apostles, somewhat as Peter in Acts 11 had to give a blow-by-blow account of his visit to Cornelius.

Text:

So this very important message, which is in lock-step with what Paul has already been teaching is sent with two representatives of the Jerusalem church so all can know Paul has not written this letter himself and passed it of as an offical document. So James and the others choose two of their number who would be trusted on all sides: Judas (‘Judas’, i.e. ‘Judah’, the name of the great royal patriarch, was very common, which is why this Judas is distinguished in verse 22 by his second name, Barsabbas) and Silas. Judas and Silas will add the personal touch to a letter which is, frankly, a bit stiff and formal, more like a committee report than a personal message. And they will be able to add further teaching to make sure that nobody is in any doubt as to the mind of the church.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1515:22 Silas Silas is mentioned here for the first time; he will accompany Paul on his later travels (Acts 15:40; 2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1).

Text:

English Standard Version Chapter 15The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

There are two important ways this letter seeks to address the parties involved:It addresses the church in Antioch as “brothers”. They are acknowledging a familial relationship, a close tie a bond which transcends nationality, geography, or ritualistic practice. “to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

English Standard Version Chapter 15

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)The document is very clear that Paul and Barnabas, so far from being seen in Jerusalem as trouble-makers, are very much persona grata. They are ‘beloved’, and they have risked their lives for the name of Jesus. They are not, in other words, to be marginalized or regarded as holding unorthodox opinions. In any case, the opening greeting demonstrates how matters stand. The Gentile believers in Antioch and the surrounding districts are ‘brothers and sisters’, members (in other words) of the same family as James and the others, even though they have not been circumcised. This already concedes the substantial point at issue. And then comes the disclaimer: the people who went to Antioch from Jerusalem may have come ‘from us’ in the sense that they were part of the Jerusalem church, but we did not send them or commission them to say what they said to you.

We know from Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica that he worries about such false letters:

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)

he suggests that a letter might come from someone, pretending to be him, saying that ‘the day of the Lord’ had arrived. Don’t believe it, he says. Look at my handwriting, and don’t trust a letter without it

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)

The question of where something had come from, especially an apparently official document or edict, was often a problem in the ancient world.

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)

For many people, this problem was resolved quite simply: a trusted intermediary would carry the letter, and would himself or herself report on the sender’s instructions and vouch for the authenticity of the content. Thus Phoebe is sent to Rome with Paul’s greatest letter; Tychicus, himself originally from Colosse, is sent there with Colossians; and so on.

Thus the party sent from Jerusalem is a 1st century mark of authenticity on this letter of great importance.

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)

In the present case, with the official letter from James and the Jerusalem church, there was a pressing need to make sure that the letter got through and was properly heard and understood. We know from Galatians that people had been spreading rumours about Paul—that he was really a junior to the Jerusalem apostles, that he had muddled up the message he should have been preaching, that he normally taught that people should be circumcised but had simply missed out that bit of the message when he was in Galatia, and so on. That’s why, in that letter, Paul has to spend such a long time explaining his personal movements and his meetings with the Jerusalem apostles, somewhat as Peter in Acts 11 had to give a blow-by-blow account of his visit to Cornelius.

So James and the others choose two of their number who would be trusted on all sides: Judas (‘Judas’, i.e. ‘Judah’, the name of the great royal patriarch, was very common, which is why this Judas is distinguished in verse 22 by his second name, Barsabbas) and Silas. Judas and Silas will add the personal touch to a letter which is, frankly, a bit stiff and formal, more like a committee report than a personal message. And they will be able to add further teaching to make sure that nobody is in any doubt as to the mind of the church.

Wright, T. (2008). Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13-28 (p. 49). London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

Then the letter goes into the restrictions that would be endorsed by the church in Jerusalem: “that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols”“from blood”“from what has been strangled”“and from sexual immorality”If you will recall from our discussion before the holiday these restrictions, though they may seem strange to us had a practical purpose.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 15

15:22 Silas Silas is mentioned here for the first time; he will accompany Paul on his later travels (Acts 15:40; 2 Cor 1:19; 1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1).

English Standard Version Chapter 15

The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

There are two important ways this letter seeks to address the parties involved:

Calling them out as “brothers” should not be overlooked. They are acknowledging a familial relationship, a close tie

It addresses the church in Antioch as “brothers”. They are acknowledging a familial relationship, a close tie a bond which transcends nationality, geography, or ritualistic practice.

“to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)

The document is very clear that Paul and Barnabas, so far from being seen in Jerusalem as trouble-makers, are very much persona grata. They are ‘beloved’, and they have risked their lives for the name of Jesus. They are not, in other words, to be marginalized or regarded as holding unorthodox opinions. In any case, the opening greeting demonstrates how matters stand. The Gentile believers in Antioch and the surrounding districts are ‘brothers and sisters’, members (in other words) of the same family as James and the others, even though they have not been circumcised. This already concedes the substantial point at issue. And then comes the disclaimer: the people who went to Antioch from Jerusalem may have come ‘from us’ in the sense that they were part of the Jerusalem church, but we did not send them or commission them to say what they said to you.

Then the letter goes into the restrictions that would be endorsed by the church in Jerusalem:

“that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols”

“from blood”

“from what has been strangled”

“and from sexual immorality”

If you will recall from our discussion before the holiday these restrictions, though they may seem strange to us had a practical purpose.

Word Pictures in the New Testament Acts 15:29This “necessity” was not a matter of salvation but only for fellowship between Jews and Gentiles. The Judaizers made the law of Moses essential to salvation

Word Pictures in the New Testament Acts 15:29

This “necessity” was not a matter of salvation but only for fellowship between Jews and Gentiles. The Judaizers made the law of Moses essential to salvation

English Standard Version Chapter 15

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

I would like to talk out of both sides of my mouth for a minute, both points I want to make are true, and they are not mutually exclusive, though they may seem contradictory on the surface:

First, the church in Antioch rejoices b/c the beautiful truth of the Gospel is that it transcends culture, they don’t have to give up being who they are to recieve salvation. The current IMB handbook talks about it this way in training modern day Paul, and Barnabas’

“The integral details of culture create a beautiful display of God’s handiwork through people created for his glory. Crossing cultures gives us an opportunity to know and understand how people from very different cultures—yet all created in the image of God—interact with the created world around them. Celebrating culture is about much more than understanding food, flags, and festivals. Culture is expressed in a myriad of ways through beliefs, art, relationships, worldview, language, communication styles, work, and so on.”

They go on to say “The gospel transcends culture and context. The truth of Scripture and the message that Jesus came to live among us, died for our sins, and rose again so that we can have life is a message that does not change. However, we have added many cultural trappings to our understanding and practice of the gospel. Learn to share the gospel in a way that focuses only on Scripture and not a culturally biased understanding of the gospel. “

Now while all of that is true, I don’t want to forget the other side of coming to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Yes it is true that we don’t have to turn our back on all of our culture we are called to lead transformed lives.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. “

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

So yes have a BLT, enjoy, books, movies, a nice glass of wine. but d/n be conformed discern what draws you further away from God and what draws you closer (different for everyone, but there are things that cannot be redeemed [murder, porn, etc.])

Receive, reject, redeem

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)

One final note. Those with sharp eyes will have spotted that there is no ‘verse 34’. The earliest and best manuscripts of the New Testament have the text as we now see it. But there is a puzzle. Luke says (verse 33) that Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem; but a few verses later (verse 40) Paul chooses Silas as his new companion. So did Silas go back to Jerusalem, or did he stay in Antioch? There is of course no necessary contradiction. Paul was quite capable of sending a message to call Silas back. But at some point at least two scribes, independently, decided to tidy things up, and wrote various things to the effect that Judas only returned to Jerusalem while Silas remained in Antioch. When the New Testament verse-numbering was done, this additional material was still in the text people were using, and was called verse 34. All contemporary translations now omit it.

I know some use an inconsistency such as this to throw the baby out with the bath water “how can we trust anything…two scribes screwed up 1,000 years ago all is lost.

In fact the richness of out manuscript evidence over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages, such as Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic and Armenian. Is exactly why we should have confidence that the words we read today are the sames as the original copies called the autographs. Without all the manuscript evidence we would not be able to find these errors, and address them. Even ones such as this that have no impact on any point of doctrine.

English Standard Version Chapter 1530 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

I would like to talk out of both sides of my mouth for a minute, both points I want to make are true, and they are not mutually exclusive, though they may seem contradictory on the surface:First, the church in Antioch rejoices b/c the beautiful truth of the Gospel is that it transcends culture, they don’t have to give up being who they are to recieve salvation. The current IMB handbook talks about it this way in training modern day Paul, and Barnabas’“The integral details of culture create a beautiful display of God’s handiwork through people created for his glory. Crossing cultures gives us an opportunity to know and understand how people from very different cultures—yet all created in the image of God—interact with the created world around them. Celebrating culture is about much more than understanding food, flags, and festivals. Culture is expressed in a myriad of ways through beliefs, art, relationships, worldview, language, communication styles, work, and so on.”They go on to say “The gospel transcends culture and context. The truth of Scripture and the message that Jesus came to live among us, died for our sins, and rose again so that we can have life is a message that does not change. However, we have added many cultural trappings to our understanding and practice of the gospel. Learn to share the gospel in a way that focuses only on Scripture and not a culturally biased understanding of the gospel. “Now while all of that is true, I don’t want to forget the other side of coming to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Yes it is true that we don’t have to turn our back on all of our culture we are called to lead transformed lives.“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5So yes have a BLT, enjoy, books, movies, a nice glass of wine. but d/n be conformed discern what draws you further away from God and what draws you closer (different for everyone, but there are things that cannot be redeemed [murder, porn, etc.])Receive, reject, redeem

Takeaway:

Acts for Everyone, Part 2: Chapters 13–28 The Letter to the Churches (Acts 15:22–35)One final note. Those with sharp eyes will have spotted that there is no ‘verse 34’. The earliest and best manuscripts of the New Testament have the text as we now see it. But there is a puzzle. Luke says (verse 33) that Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem; but a few verses later (verse 40) Paul chooses Silas as his new companion. So did Silas go back to Jerusalem, or did he stay in Antioch? There is of course no necessary contradiction. Paul was quite capable of sending a message to call Silas back. But at some point at least two scribes, independently, decided to tidy things up, and wrote various things to the effect that Judas only returned to Jerusalem while Silas remained in Antioch. When the New Testament verse-numbering was done, this additional material was still in the text people were using, and was called verse 34. All contemporary translations now omit it.

I know some use an inconsistency such as this to throw the baby out with the bath water “how can we trust anything…two scribes screwed up 1,000 years ago all is lost. In fact the richness of out manuscript evidence over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages, such as Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic and Armenian. Is exactly why we should have confidence that the words we read today are the sames as the original copies called the autographs. Without all the manuscript evidence we would not be able to find these errors, and address them. Even ones such as this that have no impact on any point of doctrine.

Culture should never get in the way of sharing, or accepting the Gospel:

Heading 1Takeaway:

There are over 300,000 churches in the US, run at the cost of $1,000 a member and without that tradition and trappings many would be lost

Culture should never get in the way of sharing, or accepting the Gospel:There are over 300,000 churches in the US, run at the cost of $1,000 a member and without that tradition and trappings many would be lostThere are over 54 million Christians in China who don’t have paid clergy, meet in homes under fear of persecution, and would be confused by building committees, Christians leaving the church b/c of a change in worship leader, etc.Yet both groups, experiences as different as they are are Christians worshipping the same God, with the same future promises.We should however expect one thing to be similar among all Christians. A transformed life, forsaking things they previously thought vital, embracing things they once had no interest in. All the while, however imperfectly seeking to love and serve Jesus.

There are over 54 million Christians in China who don’t have paid clergy, meet in homes under fear of persecution, and would be confused by building committees, Christians leaving the church b/c of a change in worship leader, etc.

Yet both groups, experiences as different as they are are Christians worshipping the same God, with the same future promises.

We should however expect one thing to be similar among all Christians. A transformed life, forsaking things they previously thought vital, embracing things they once had no interest in. All the while, however imperfectly seeking to love and serve Jesus.

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