October 17, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Kings and Acts? Here’s today’s reading:
Acts 15 (NIV)
The Council at Jerusalem
1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.……Continue Reading
What a good model is given here about what to do when disagreement occurs within the church. There is to be conversation about the circumstances under consideration and those things are subjected to the revelation of the Word and the counsel of those who are mature in the faith. How good it is that the church got this right in rejecting the proposition coming from the party of the Pharisees. How good that Peter reflected on what God had showed him in bringing Cornelius to faith. It is curious the things they do put before the Gentiles, but we would understand these things as concerns for sanctification and not justification. And it is good too that they write a letter and inform the churches about what they decided and sent people along to explain it. The church should be a place where people care about truth and are willing to open and understanding in the conversations we have about it, but the Bible is always the reference point of what we believe. And it is very sad that Paul and Barnabas have such a sharp dispute about John Mark. You can understand both their points, but it seems to me that Barnabas was more correct to give him another shot. We do recognize that later on Paul does speak well of John Mark and asks him to come see him at the later part of his ministry.
Taking the wedge out before division is started. Great answer to what could have caused a huge split in the church. Deal with disputes head on.! We are mature enough. Too bad Paul and Barnabus split up over somewhat trivial matter. Easy to happen if anger gets a foothold.
Acts 15
Acts 15
Judas and Silas told the church that Jewish rituals were not what the Lord intended for them to do as believers in Christ. Instead, refraining from doing the things that corrupted the body was most important. Avoidance of these behaviors would allow them to do well for themselves. Messages like these built up and strengthened the believers. Speaking truth about God’s Word is the best way to encourage people so it is good when we strive to do so amongst our family, friends and neighbors.
Acts 15
Interesting to see such a large dispute settled in such a healthy way and a small personal dispute wind up in a severed relationship. The church came to an agreement when they sat down to not only state their case but listen to others. Disputes can only be settled if both sides are willing to listen. I would argue it was likely the reason Paul and Barnabas couldn’t find some resolution, someone wasn’t willing to listen and compromise.
”So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.“
Acts 15:8-9 NKJV
Acts 15