Category: The Apostle Paul

^5 “But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” ⁶ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.” (Acts 15:5–6)

The Lord may indeed deliver us from a works righteousness system of religion in justifying us by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. However, a remnant of works righteousness may still reside within the believer until it is completely eradicated through the process of sanctification. Such was the case at the Jerusalem Council.

To begin with, we must notice that those who rose up and said “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the Law of Moses” were believers in Christ. They belonged to the party of the Pharisees. They sincerely believed that justified Gentiles had to be circumcised, and to keep the Law of Moses, in order to be truly converted. This debate regarded the essential elements of justification and not sanctification.  It was then that the apostles, and the elders of the Jerusalem Church, met together to discuss the matter.

One commentator writes, “Among the Pharisees, the stricter school of Shammai may have prevailed at this time; the school of Hillel, which predominated later, was much more generous toward Gentiles. Other Jews respected Pharisees for their piety, and the Jerusalem church no doubt accorded them high status for their knowledge of the law.”

 Dr. Don Carson writes, “The modern reader can only appreciate with difficulty how compelling the argument, ‘unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses you cannot be saved, ‘ would have been to the early Jewish Christians. Centuries of reading the NT writers’ solutions have blunted the sharpness of this question for us. These were people who believed that the God of the Scriptures (there was of course no ‘New Testament’ yet) was the same God who sent Jesus. Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the answer to Jewish questions, the fulfilment of the Jewish law and prophets, sent by the same God who sent those laws and prophets. How could a person claim to accept Jesus and the Father who sent him, while refusing to listen to the other things that God had said and asked? It must have appeared, even to those Jewish Christians who were prepared to see ‘even the Gentiles’ (10:45; 11:18) become part of the chosen people, that they should do so completely and become Jews before thinking they could become fulfilled, believing Jews.”

 To be sure, this was no insignificant debate. The heart of the Gospel message was at stake. The question remains today. Is the sinner justified by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus alone, or must the sinner contribute something to their justification before God? More to come.

Soli deo Gloria!

^3 “So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.” (Acts 15:3–4)

In light of the growing controversy concerning whether Gentiles in the early church had to become Jewish in order to be Christians, the church in Antioch sent Paul, Barnabas and others to Jerusalem. Once there, they would meet with the apostles and the church elders to discuss and resolve this matter. The essential nature and message of the Gospel was a stake.

As Paul, Barnabas and the rest traveled south, they passed through the area of Phoenicia and Samaria. In doing so, they shared with their fellow brothers in Christ how the Lord saved and converted the Gentiles. This brought great joy to those they met.

Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, the church welcomed Paul and Barnabas. So too did the apostles and the elders. At that time, the two missionaries shared how the Lord used them during their first missionary journey to lead Gentiles to salvation in Christ alone, by grace alone, through God given faith alone.

In Galatians 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul referred to this journey. “Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. ² I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.”

Dr. Simon Kistemaker writes, “The time has come to convene the church and guided by the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28) state the necessary requirements for Gentile believers.”

In presenting the Gospel, we must be careful to not add or detract anything from the Gospel. Ask God to help you make sure that His Gospel is your Gospel.

Soli deo Gloria!

“But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.” (Acts 15:1–2)

The LORD’s justification of sinners is by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus alone to the glory of God alone. This is the heart of the Gospel. To oppose this is no small dissension or debate.

Romans 3:21-26 says, “²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

False teachers have always sought to approach God on the basis of something they can accomplish. In seeking to rest on their own laurels and self-righteousness, they effectively deny that God declares sinners righteous before Him solely on the basis of His sovereign grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

To explain it another way, the sinner is justified by good works. However, the good works by which the sinner is redeemed, reconciled and justified before God is not their own works, but rather solely the work of Jesus Christ.

In the aftermath of their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas encountered this heresy of justification being other than by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. It arose concerning the question of whether converted Gentiles must subsequently be circumcised in order to be truly justified before God.

Certain Jewish men from Judea came to Antioch and began teaching the Gentile believers that unless they were circumcised according to the Old Testament Law, they could not be saved. In other words, the visitors from Judea were teaching that justification was not by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. Some other work, in this context circumcision, had to be contributed for justification to be real. However, this teaching contradicted the apostles.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes that, “Peter did not require Cornelius’ party to be circumcised, only baptized as Jesus commanded (Acts 10:47-48; Matthew 28:19). Paul taught Gentiles that justification is by faith alone (Acts 13:39). And God initiated both these outreaches and attested to Peter and Paul’s doctrine by sending the Holy Spirit on uncircumcised God-fearers and Gentiles.”

Acts 15:2 says, “And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.” Paul and Barnabas had a heated quarrel and dispute with the visitors from Judea about what they were teaching. It was then decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and others from Antioch to the apostles and church elders in Jerusalem to resolve this issue.

Justification is always by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. However, justification is not without the resulting works of the Holy Spirit within and through the lives of believers (Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; James 2:14-26). The Bible calls this sanctification (I Thessalonians 4:1-8). Sanctification is evidence that a believer is truly justified and never the basis by which a believer is justified.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

^24 “Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, ²⁶ and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. ²⁷ And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they remained no little time with the disciples” (Acts 14:24–28).

Paul and Barnabas continued their journey back home by revisiting the churches God began through their preaching of the Gospel. They returned to Pisdia Antioch and then came back to Pamphylia. From there they continued to travel south to both Perga and Attalia.

Paul and Barnabas then sailed back home to Syrian Antioch. It was there that the church had commissioned the two of them to undertake their missionary journey. It was to this church that the two missionaries returned.

When Paul and Barnabas arrived in the city, they gathered the church together and gave a missions report. They told the church all that God had done through them and with them. They related how God had opened an entrance of faith to the Gentiles. They then remained with the believers in Antioch for some time.

It is interesting to me that God’s work through missionaries has not changed all that much in 2,000 years. A church, or churches, sends a missionary into the foreign field. The individual ministers there for a period of time. They then return to their sending churches to give a report of God’s work through them and with them.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “Thus ends the first missionary journey which lasted between one and two years and in which Paul and Barnabas traversed more than 700 miles by land and 500 miles by sea. But more than that, it demolished the wall between Jews and Gentiles (cf. Eph. 2:14–16). The two apostles had been committed by the church at Antioch to God’s grace (cf. Acts 15:40) and they saw His grace at work (cf. “grace” in 13:43; 14:3). Probably Paul wrote the Book of Galatians from Antioch shortly after his first missionary journey and before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).”

Take some time today to pray for missionaries you know and of which your local church financially supports.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ²³ And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” (Acts 14:21–23)

Paul and Barnabas remained undaunted in their vision and quest to spread and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Leaving Lystra, they journeyed 40 mile southeast to the city of Derbe. When they arrived, they preached the gospel and saw many individuals repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

After an unspecified period of time, the two evangelists left Derbe and returned to their previous church plants in the cities of Lystra, Iconium and Pisdian Antioch. There was no hesitancy on their part to do so, in spite of the persecution they previously encountered.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “For reasons Luke does not disclose, they (Paul and Barnabas) decide to end their missionary journey and retrace their steps through Lystra, Iconium and Pisidian Antioch. This is a demonstration of great boldness on their part, but it also enables them to serve as examples for the believers; they’re not giving up their work in the face of persecution and neither should the new Christians.”

Their motivation to return to these newly established congregations was born out of a pastoral concern for the spiritual well-being of these new converts. Acts 14:22 summarizes Paul and Barnabas’ intentions; “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

 Luke also records the leadership structure of these new churches. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (πρεσβυτέρους; presbyterous) or mature, spiritual leaders. This was in keeping with the pattern developed in establishing churches (Acts 11:30). These elders were men who would watch over the new congregations by preaching and teaching the Word of God.

Following a time of prayer and fasting, Paul and Barnabas committed these men to the Lord. Luke records that these elders were trustworthy, dependable, committed and honorable men.

Do you view the elders of your church in much the same way? Do you see the elders of your church as a blessing in your life? I know that I view the elders of the church of which I am a member in such a way. I trust you have the same perspective concerning those leaders of your church.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

^19 “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰ But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.” (Acts 14:19–20)

It is within the overall context of Paul and Barnabas’ experience in Lystra that we see their high view of God. They may not say everything they could say about God, but what they do say is significant. Their Theology Proper, the Doctrine of God, is clearly displayed.

Paul and Barnabas acknowledged God as the only creator, who is living, who made the heavens the earth and the sea and all that is in them. God has also revealed Himself in His creation (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-21). He is the gracious God who gives rain, fruitful seasons, food and gladness; both to the saint and to the sinner (Mathew 5:45).

Paul and Barnabas would not accept any praise or worship. They understood that the only One worthy of worship and praise is God (I Chronicles 16:8-36).

However, people are not easily dissuaded, deterred or discouraged from what they want to do. If and when people are prevented from receiving from their objects of worship and praise that which they desire, or they don’t like what they receive from their objects of worship and praise, they will quickly turn against said object. Perhaps, they may even attack their object of worship and praise.

Such was the response by the people of Lystra when Paul and Barnabas would not accept their worship and praise. This rejection was instigated by the unbelieving Jews from both Pisidian Antioch and Iconium. They persuaded the Lystran crowd, who in turn stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city. They thought they had killed him.

The IVP Background Commentary provides us with valuable insight. “The visitors from Antioch had no legal authority outside their own territory, but they are able to persuade the mob to accomplish what had failed in Iconium (14:5–6). A mob could change its views quickly (cf. Lk 23:18), especially in a case like this one: when Paul and Barnabas deny the gods, they would be considered impious and hence would appear to fit a different category of ancient paganism: they were not gods after all, but dangerous magicians.”

However, when the disciples gathered around Paul’s seemingly dead body, he got up and reentered the city. The following day, both he and Barnabas left Lystra and travelled to the city of Derbe.

“Antioch was nearly a hundred miles from Lystra by road, but it is known that the cities were in contact with each other, considering themselves sister cities. See Acts 7:58 for details on Jewish stoning, but stoning was also the most common form of urban mob violence in the Gentile world. Stones, tiles and cobbles were readily available in ancient streets. When Jewish crowds stoned a transgressor, they sought the transgressor’s death; Paul’s survival undoubtedly points to divine protection. Normally such executions were performed outside the city, and they may have dragged him out of the city for purity reasons; that he not only survived but could walk afterward must be understood as miraculous.”

 Paul and Barnabas were undeterred in their desire to share the Gospel and to serve God. The violent rejection they experienced at Lystra prompted them to travel to Derbe and minster the Gospel there as they had in previous cities. You may have experienced your own kind of rejection for sharing the Gospel. Do not be discouraged. Keep on sharing your faith in the One, True God to those who need to know Him as their Lord and Savior.

Soli deo Gloria!

^16” In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” ¹⁸ Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. “(Acts 14:16–18)

Both Barnabas and Paul continued to take this teachable moment to preach the truth from God’s Word. This was not only about who they were, but also who God is and what He does.

They stated, “In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways” (Acts 14:16). Paul and Barnabas explained that God was not only the creator of all things, but also was patient and longsuffering to unbelievers. Romans 3:23-25 supports this doctrine when Paul wrote, “²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” This long-suffering by God is a testimony of His grace.

Another testimony of God’s grace is His benevolent witness in creation. “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). God, in His common grace, sends forth the rain and fruitful growing upon the righteous as well as the unrighteous (Matthew 5:44–45). However, even as Paul and Barnabas fervently preached these words, it did not restrain the people from offering sacrifices to them.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “God’s providence and his creative power testify to man’s reason of his existence (Rom. 1:18–20), as does man’s own conscience, which contains his moral law (Rom. 2:13–15).”

We have to constantly remind ourselves to not offer so-called sacrifices of praise and worship to our fellow man when such praise and worship should be exclusively given to God. We can appreciate fellow believers and pastors, but we must never worship them.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 14:14–15)

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 says, “⁵ For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”  

Paul and Barnabas wanted the Lystrans to know that the two of them were not worthy of worship. They were but men, but men who possessed a great message from the One, True God. It was a message of good news. It was a message encouraging the people to turn from worthless things and turn to the living God who created them, the heavens and the earth, along with the sea and all that is in them.

One commentator writes, “This pagan crowd knows nothing about God and His works. So Paul and Barnabas explain that this God they proclaim is the Creator of all things. Furthermore, He has been patient and longsuffering, not calling unbelievers to account but showering them with good things, such as rain, food, and even gladness, blessings that revealed His existence and some basic facts about His nature. For these reasons alone, the Lystrans should worship and serve God through Jesus Christ. But even these powerful words barely dissuade the people from sacrificing to them.”

As we share the Gospel to our pagan friends, begin with the truth of creation. The created universe evidences the existence of a divine being with whom all men must give an account. Read and meditate upon Psalm 19:1-6, Acts 17:22-28 and Romans 1:18-32.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 14:14–15)

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  It is pretty exciting when the Lord begins to use you. Even more tempting when people begin praise you instead of the Lord. He alone is the One, True God deserving the credit and our worship.

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine. He spoke of several pastors he knew of who were pastoring mega-churches within the United States. Tens of thousands of people are in their congregations. He shared about the great, and large, work they were doing. Apparently, a great work for God must always be a large work for God. How typically American.

In the conversation, the emphasis was not placed upon the Lord working through these pastors, but rather the work the pastors were doing, apparently independent of God. It seemed to me that my friend was unconsciously saying that these men were some of the special and select few that have all the answers to all the questions by all the people. That is why they are leading such large churches.

The people of Lystra were ready, willing and able to praise Paul and Barnabas as gods. It is interesting to note that from today’s text, Paul and Barnabas were having nothing to do with it. They would not receive worship. They tore their garments, which was a cultural and conventional sign of great grief and distress (Mark 14:63).

They then rushed out into the crowd continuously screaming and shouting “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Paul and Barnabas at first do not understand what the Lystrans are saying. But when they learn the people’s intent, they are aghast, for they know that only God is to be worshipped. So they hasten to set the record straight: they are not gods but mere men who are messengers from the true God.”

No matter how small, or large, the church you are a member is, no matter how gifted your pastor may be in heralding the truth of God’s Word, and no matter how many ministries and programs your church has, ultimately we are but messengers of the One, True God for which He and He alone deserves all the glory and all our worship.

Let us resolve to no longer elevate Christian leaders to a prominent place bordering on worship. Let us resolve to worship the One, True God alone.

Soli deo Gloria!    

 

 

 

^11 “And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ¹² Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.” (Acts 14:11–13)

John Calvin rightly said, “Our hearts become factories of idols in which we fashion and refashion God to fit our needs and desires.”

The people of Lystra were religious and worshipping people. Today’s text gives testimony to this fact. However, even though their worship was sincere, it was sincerely wrong. The objects of their honor and praise was not the LORD alone.

When the people saw what God did through the Apostle Paul in healing the crippled man, they did not attribute this miracle to the One, True God, but rather presumed the false Greek gods had appeared. They called Barnabas “Zeus” and they called Paul “Hermes” because Paul was the chief speaker. They said, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “The people of Lystra are thoroughly pagan, lacking the biblical understanding possessed by Jews and Gentile God-fearers, and they focus on the miracle. According to their worldview, the Greek gods Zeus (Barnabas) and Hermes (Paul) have come among them. A local legend held that this had happened before, with disastrous results for those who were inhospitable. Thus, the people are eager to give obedience to the missionaries and prepared to offer sacrifices to them.”

People continue to do this today. Whenever certain individuals rise within the culture, or even within the church, the masses are quick, ready, willing and able to give praise and honor to the few and famous instead of giving praise to the One, True God. The culture does so with entertainers, athletes, and politicians, while the church does so with popular Christian musicians, authors, and so-called rock star pastors. The adulation usually does not last long though, for all too soon people are looking forward to the next big thing or new thing. People’s attention spans are often brief.

The Bible says, “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! ² Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! ³ Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! ⁴ Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! ⁵ Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! ⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150)

The LORD commands everyone to praise and honor Him, and He alone. No one, or nothing, is to be worshiped and praised alongside God, above God, or instead of God. He and He alone is worthy of our praise.

Examine the people, places or things which you have a tendency to praise and honor. Resolve to praise the LORD who created those people, places or things. May all our praise be focused on the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!