Acts 15:12-21 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’—things known from long ago.“ It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.
Some Jewish Christians demanded that the tenants of Judaism should be followed by the Gentile converts. Because of this demand by the Christian Jews, Paul and Barnabas were before the high council of the church in Jerusalem. They were there defending the Good News that salvation comes through faith not by works. They were convinced that the cross made people right with God; only the efficacious work of Jesus on the cross is needed to be in the kingdom of God. Circumcision was not a necessary step to be born again. If cutting away of the flesh was a necessary act to be saved, then all their work in the Gentile communities was a waste of time. They were convinced that faith in Jesus Christ was sufficient alone for the work of salvation in a person’s life. “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:15-18 ) Peter had already told the Council and the Jewish accusers in the gathering that none of them has been able to follow all the requirements of the law. And if not, as James talks about the law, they are guilty of breaking every commandment of God. God is perfect, holy, and eternal, no man or woman who is not absolutely perfect can ever have access to God’s dwelling place. Where God is, his kingdom, perfection is demanded. Any blemish or imperfection will face eternal judgment. The tabernacle in the wilderness had to be built in a precise manner, no sloppiness in the measurements; all of it had to be built as God demanded. Perfection, preciseness are demanded by God. Consequently, Peter implies to the Jewish accusers of Paul and Barnabas, if they are not perfect in following the law, then God does not abide within them. The Spirit of God will not tolerate those who are not perfectly constructed. Now in the above focus, we see James, the brother of Jesus, who once saw Jesus as being emotionally sick, reminding the council of Peter’s trance. Peter saw a blanket full of a variety of living animals and birds descending to him from heaven. In this trance, God told him to eat all the creatures he saw, even those who were forbidden by the law given to Moses. In this trance he was told to get up and kill and eat them. Of course, many of these living things were repugnant to Peter, horrid to look at and especially horrid to think of eating them. But God told him in his trance to get up and eat anything on the blanket, for God has made them clean; therefore, they are clean indeed. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” (Acts 10:11-13) Of course at the end of the trance, Peter received an invitation to go to a Gentile’s house to talk to him about salvation. As Peter talks to them, the whole gathering of people at Cornelius’ house was filled with the Holy Spirit, revealing clearly that they were counted as worthy to be in God’s household. Therefore, showing the Jews that Judaism and its commandments and regulations are not necessary to be accepted by God. James tells the high council that in his judgement, the Jewish believers whose lifestyles are still wrapped around Judaism, should forgo their demands that the Gentile Christians should be circumcised. Only the Holy Spirit who fell on the Gentiles in Cornelius' house, determines rightness with God, not Judaism or obedience to rules and regulations. Salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, no other road leads to the eternal kingdom of God.
Paul and Barnabas were fulfilling the message of the angel who talked to the shepherds in the field outside of Bethlehem. He tells them that this little baby that they will discover in Bethlehem in a stable will bless all people in the world. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that WILL CAUSE GREAT JOY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. (Luke 2:8-10) Paul and Barnabas are actively bringing this great joy to all the people of the world. The angel had announced the Good News to mankind: eternal life can be theirs through this baby Jesus. Later, after this baby was birthed by Mary, we see them in the Temple of God. Jesus had to be consecrated to God for all first-born Jewish boys belong to God. As in Egypt, without the blood on them, the first born were killed. Only the lamb’s blood over the doorway could prevent the first-born boys from being killed. From that time on, all first-born Jewish boys had to have blood sacrifice for their atonement. Mary and Joseph were not wealthy, so they had two doves or pigeons sacrificed as an atonement for their baby boy. This act was done in the Temple. In the Temple they met a righteous man who God had honored with the knowledge that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. (Luke 2:26) On this day of Jesus’ dedication to God, the Holy Spirit summoned Simeon to go to the Temple. He met Mary and Joseph and took the baby from the arms of Mary and presented him to God. ”Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of ALL NATIONS: a light for revelation to the GENTILES, and the glory of your people ISREAL.” (Luke 2:28-32) We see in Simeon’s prayer that he is stating the same thing that God told Abraham, that his Seed, Jesus, would bless all nations. Now Simeon is closing the book on that promise because the Seed has not come through the womb of Mary. The Holy Spirit would be present with men in the reality of Jesus the Christ being on earth. And we see that when Jesus is ministering to people. The Spirit of God heals everyone who comes to Jesus. When Anna who is in the Temple hears Simeon’s praise to God for the baby Jesus, Anna is probably over a hundred years old, for she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:36-37) Anna was there for a special reason: she was out of the tribe of Asher who was the eighth son of Jacob; now she sees Jesus, eight days old. Asher means happy. Anna was happy after hearing Simeon’s prayer fill the Temple with the happy news of the child Jesus. Because she never left the Temple, all the people who talked to her in the Temple heard her happy account of Jesus the baby and Simeon’s prophetic words. Paul and Barnabas are now bringing Simeon’s words to fruition. They are reconciling the Gentiles to God, breaking down the barrier between the Gentiles and God. Their message of Jesus Christ alone as the avenue to God is received by many in the Gentile communities. Miracles and signs follow them in every city. God was in the business of fulfilling his promise to Abraham that his SEED would bless all nations. The angel and Simeon in their prophetic words confirmed that now was the time that God would bless all people He created. Salvation had come to earth to dismiss the devil’s reign over mankind.
What do these new Christians reveal about God? What does the Holy Spirit implant in their hearts? How are they different from the seed of Adam? First, in power, the new creatures founded by faith in Christ Jesus would demonstrate the power of God. Jesus had authority over every demon and every sickness. His followers would also cast out demons and heal the sick. We see Paul demonstrate this power of God in him in Lystra. In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. (Act 14:8-10) Paul cast out demons from Bar-Jesus on the island of Cyprus. Later on in his other missionary journeys, even his handkerchiefs or aprons brought healing to people who touched them. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:11-12) Born-again people through faith in Jesus Christ were powerful in the Spirit of God. What they prayed for in the will of God took place. These new creatures in the kingdom of God also displayed a change of heart by the way they dealt with people. People are aggressive and hurtful as God states before the flood. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. (Genesis 6:11-12) Now because of Jesus’s work on the cross, redeeming mankind from destruction because of their sins; we see a new likeness in these converts to Jesus. We see in the fruit of the Spirit, He who confirms their salvation. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) We see lambs, not wolves who set out to destroy others. We see the Lamb of God in them, willing to die for others, even their enemies. The new creatures in God are willing to allow God to justify their lives. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-20) As sheep in God’s pasture they allow the shepherd to defend them and to protect them from the wolves in the world. Paul and Barnabas’ first journey illustrated their willingness to allow God to defend them. As they were chased out of one city after another, they just moved on, willing to take the rebuke of the hostile people who opposed them. They did not gather their supporters in those cities and attack their enemies. In each community they presented the cause of Christ without fear, for they had heard the message of God in their hearts. They were energized by the word of God and they were willing to announce TO ALL what they heard in their spiritual ears. Greek and Gentile would hear the way to salvation through their lips. So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:26-28) Friends around this breakfast table, are you boldly proclaiming the Good News that you hear in your hearts? Are you afraid to announce the Truth and the Way to all people? Are you still bound by the rules and regulations of religion? Dear friends you have been set free to announce the Good News to all people. Simeon and Anna in the Temple, motivated by the happiness in them, told everyone they met about this little baby Jesus Christ. They knew through this eight-day old baby that the kingdom of God has come to earth, a message that Paul and Barnabas reveled in. May we greatly rejoice in this truth. Amen!
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