(མཛད་པ། 15:22-35)

 

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. (Acts 15:22-35)

 

It was agreed not to force new Gentile believers in Jesus to become Jews. But the rules chosen were such as to avoid habits that would be very offensive to the consciences of Jews and Jewish Christians; for many in their towns did strictly observe the Mosaic laws about idols and blood.

All Christians would agree, of course, on the basic laws like ‘no killing’ , but, as to sexual matters, the need for purity was given emphasis. This was because sexual immorality was so widespread in the Gentile culture, and even formed part of temple worship.

In most parts of our modern world too it would seem that a special rule of sexual purity is needed.

(མཛད་པ། 15:36 – 16:5)

 

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. (Acts 15:36 – 16:5)

 

Following the disagreement, this time there were two teams sent out by the Antioch Church. Barnabas, who was an encourager of young believers (see Acts 4:36 and 9:27), took Mark with him to his native country (Acts 4:36) of Cyprus. Under his care Mark would become a useful servant of the gospel, and even receive praise from Paul one day.

Paul with Silas visited churches in Syria and Cilicia taking with them the letter from Jerusalem, and then going on to revisit Derbe and Lystra (Acts 14:6). At Lystra lived the young man Timothy who would become an important church leader in days to come.

Silas was well chosen as a brave and hardy companion for Paul, a gospel soldier as it were. The story of their campaign with its achievements and difficulties is told in Chapters 16 and 17; so keep on reading!

*map source here @ http://www.searchingthescriptures.net

(མཛད་པ། 16:6-10)

 

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6-10)

 

It seemed good to Paul and Silas to continue going west so as to preach the gospel in Asia (The whole western part of the country that is Turkey today was the Roman province of Asia). But they faced a ‘No Entry’ sign; we do not know how God’s Holy Spirit spoke to them.

So they set off on the long northward journey to the province of Bithynia. Again Jesus said ‘No’ to them in some manner. And so without stopping anywhere they made the long journey westward down to Troas. Where to go next? And there God gave them directions, using the vision of a man calling ‘Come, help us’.

As a result they made plans to cross the sea to Europe (See map posted last week). God’s obedient servants will know his guidance.