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The
Acts of The Apostles
Acts was taught by Dr. James Modlish
Chapter
Fifteen
(15:1-41)
Vs.
1-5
In
(Acts 15) two of the greatest and most important
questions ever asked are answered.
[1].
(Vs. 1) can a man do anything to get saved?
[2]. (Vs. 5) Can a man do anything to stay
Saved?
Denominational
religions and cults never cease quoting (Heb. 3,6,10;
Matt. 24,.25,6,7; Acts 2:38; Mk. 16) yet you'll never
hear them take a stand in Acts 15 which serves to be what
might be called the first and last apostolic council.
Present are the apostles, elders and brethren (vs. 23),
men that have risked their lives for the gospel (vs. 26)
and with the consent of the Holy Ghost (vs.
28).
It is
interesting that those who profess a works' salvation
have never been able to agree on how many works it would
take to get a person or keep a person saved. The fact is
those who have the most to say about losing your
salvation are those who will not profess to have it as a
present possession.
In (vs. 5)
we have a sect of the Pharisees that are believers - the
first denomination. These were saved disciples who
believed they could lose their salvation.
Vs. 6-11
It
isn't any wonder there is so much confusion today in
Christianity. The problems didn't start yesterday:,
dissension (vs. 2), disputing (vs. 2) and (vs. 7).
The business
at hand is unlike the (Acts 6) business meeting where the
deacons were chosen. Here the question is doctrine. In
(vs. 7) Paul refers to his meeting with Cornelius in
(Acts 10), "by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the
word." Verse 8 he says the Holy Ghost was given the
Gentiles as he was given to the apostles in (Acts 2).
"Purifying their hearts by faith." Water is not
mentioned. Baptism is not mentioned .... by faith, (Eph.
2:8,9).
(1 Pet.
1:22): "Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying
the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the
brethren..." (1 Pet. 3:21): Baptism is a figure of
salvation.
Vs.
10
Peter
says, Why laden the people again with the yoke (law)
which no one could bear before!
Vs.
11
"They" - the
Gentiles
Vs.
12
Barnabas
and Paul then give testimony of the wonderful works God
had wrought amongst the Gentiles to back up Peter's
statement.
Vs.
13-23
James
(the Lord's brother) stands up to try to draw all this
together. Verses (14-17) settle many questions in the
Bible student's mind and consequently have been the
battleground for A-millennialists, Post-millennialists
and Pre-millennialists.
Vs.
14
"God
at the first" - reference to what Peter has just said
Cornelius - a calling out of the Gentiles. This will be
followed by the Second Coming: "...I will return...", the
tabernacle is built again (literally) (Amos 9:11); for
this purpose (vs. 17), "that the residue of men might
seek after the Lord." The calling of the Gentiles - (Jer.
49:39; Isa. 19:18; 42:1; 49:5,6. See also Lk. 1:17;
7:16).
There is
much question to the reference (Acts 15:16) as to whether
or not (Amos 9:11) is being quoted.
[1].
This is a free quotation, e.g. (Matt. 8:17; Heb.
8:11).
[2]. The word "prophets" is plural; to limit
this quote to one verse is unfair.
[3]. The words of the prophets (vs. 15) agree
that there are two gatherings, one in the Tribulation
(Rev. 7) and one the Millennium (Isa. 2). (See also
these verses: Isa. 2:1-4; Isa. 66:6-20; Rev. 11:1-3;
Eze. 40-48; Lk. 1:30-33; Matt. 19:28: 25:31)
Vs.
18
God's
foreknowledge precedes election (1 Pet. 1:2).
Vs.
19
Repentance
is a turning from and a turning "to" God.
Vs. 20
James
then tells the Gentiles to abstain from four things ...
not to get saved ... not to stay saved ... but for a
testimony to the Jews (vs. 21) to whom the gospel is
being preached, so that the Gentiles would not place a
stumbling block before-the Jew.
Vs. 21
(1
Cor. 10:29: Rom 14:1-14). In (vs. 29) "from which if you
keep yourselves, ye do well", not get saved or stay
saved.
The problem
has been solved very simply once and for all. Chosen men
are sent from Jerusalem to accompany Paul and Barnabas to
Antioch. Letters are also written to accompany the
apostles and disciples for there must have been some
confusion over the letter of James (Acts 12:1,2) to the
12 tribes scattered abroad.
Silas (vs.
22) is Silvanus. (2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Pet. 5:12;
Acts 16).
Vs.
23-28
The
opinion is unanimous: The apostles, elders, brethren,
Barnabas, Paul (vs. 26), Judas, Silas and (vs. 28) ...
The Holy Ghost!
Vs.
29
(Vs.
20) is repeated, "from which if ye keep yourselves, ye do
well." Not be saved.
Vs.
32
Prophets:
(Eph. 4:11,12). "Exhorted with many words" and confirmed
(strengthened) them. This is not a reference to a Roman
Catholic Sacrament.
Vs.
35
Notice
again the context in which the church of Antioch is found
with reference to Manuscript Evidence.
(Acts
15:35) - teaching and preaching the Word of
God.
(Acts
13:1) - starting point of Paul's missionary
journeys.
(Acts
11:26) - where the disciples were first called
Christians.
At this
point (Gal. 2:11-21) probably takes place. Peter probably
went to Antioch, (vs. 33,35), after the council at
Jerusalem. if this is so, Galatians was written after
(Acts 15).
Vs.
36-41
The
second missionary trip begins. The original intent is to
cover much of the same ground covered on the first, and
check on their spiritual progress.
Paul and
Barnabas have a sharp disagreement. Paul is probably very
much against it because John probably turned back (Acts
13:5,13) because the going got rough. The results: Two
mission teams: Paul
and Silas
(vs. 34) and Barnabas
and John Mark.
Two by two.
Barnabas
takes John to Cyprus and rather than go back there and
run into John Mark, Paul goes directly across the
mainland to Asia Minor (vs. 41).
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