Acts 15:6-21
Four names are mentioned in today’s reading: Peter/Simeon, James, Barnabas and Paul. [Notice that Barnabas is mentioned first here (v. 12); this is common when the two of them are in Jerusalem.] So of these four, Peter had trips to Samaria and Caesarea; Barnabas and Paul went to Cyprus and Asia Minor; and James stayed behind in Jerusalem. Yet James comes out as the leader, the spokesman, if you will. After all the others have spoken, his is the final say. But his final words come after much listening: And after there had been much debate… (v. 7); And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened… (v. 12).
I had said yesterday that this Jerusalem Council offers lessons for unity and church leadership. These few verses describe that perfectly. I have no doubt that during the “much debate” in verse 7 (I imagine that as a free-for-all discussion) that James and Peter were discussing the circumcision issue with the other church leaders – The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. (v. 6). Then they took the time to hear from the major parties who had been at the forefront of the Gentile missions. Then I’m sure the leaders gathered again and presented their recommendation. We’ll see tomorrow that the matter was resolved.
These few verses (1-21) provide a lesson for all of us. Where there are church “issues” we need to listen to one another; our church leadership needs to listen to the body; then in the end we need to defer to our church leadership (with prayer and fasting), trusting that they are being led by the Holy Spirit. Just that…!
Slava Bohu!
Totally agree, Fred. In this case, they had to discern what was still true given Christ’s new “wine” vs. what was only tradition or cultural preferences, old wineskins. Love that James went back to the prophets v. Leviticus.