The Mission to Asia Minor and Its Aftermath

[Acts 13:1 – Acts 15:35]

 3 Sections

1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]

2. The Letter is Read to the Antioch Church [15:22-35]
3. Paul Separates from Barnabas [15:36-41]
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]

Some men [Jewish Christians

from Jerusalem with the
party of the Pharisees] from
Judea to Antioch
 taught the believers
 “You cannot be saved
unless you are circumcised
as the Law of Moses
requires.”
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]

Paul & Barnabas

 fierce argument with the
‘men’
 decided with some others
in Antioch
 should go to Jerusalem,
 see the apostles & elders
about this
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]

Paul & Barnabas

 went through Phoenicia &
Samaria
 Reported how the Gentiles
had turned to God
 Believers felt great joy on
hearing this news
 arrived in Jerusalem
 Welcomed by the church,
the apostles & the elders
 Told all that God had done
through them
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]

 Believers with the party of

the Pharisees
- stood up
- said that the Gentile
believers must be
circumcised
& told to obey the
Law of Moses
 Apostles & the elders – met
together to consider this
issue
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]

Meeting of the apostles & the elders

in Jerusalem
Long debate
Peter stood up
 Reminded his fellow believers
 How God chose him from among
them long time ago
 To preach the Good News to the
Gentiles
 God showed His approval of the
Gentiles
- gave the Holy Spirit just as He
had given to
them
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]
 Explained that God
 did not make any distinctions
between Jews and Gentiles
 Had forgiven them their sins
 Asked them
 Why they would want to put God to
the test
 Why they wanted to make the
Gentiles obey the Law of Moses
which they themselves were not
able to
 Ended by saying
 the Gentiles were saved by the grace
of the Lord Jesus just as they were
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]
Whole group
 Silent
 Listened to Paul & Barnabas
share about all the miracles &
wonders that God had done
through them among the
Gentiles
James spoke up & told his
Jerusalem brothers
 The words of the prophets
agree completely with what
Peter had shared [that God also
cared for the Gentiles & taken them to
be His people as well]
1. The Jerusalem Council [15:1-21]
 Should not trouble the Gentiles
who were turning to God
 To write them a letter asking
them to follow four rules
The Four rules
 Abstain
1) from eating any food that was
ritually unclean – had been
offered to idols
2) from sexual immorality
3) from eating any animal that
had been strangled
4) from eating blood
2. The Letter is Read to the Antioch Church [15:1-
21]

The apostles & the elders & the

whole church
 Decided to choose some men
from the group
 Send them to Antioch with
Paul & Barnabas
 Chose two men – highly
respected by the believers,
Judas called Barsabbas, & Silas
2. The Letter is Read to the Antioch Church [15:1-21]
The Letter to Antioch Church
 Abstain
1) from eating any food that was
ritually unclean – had been
offered to idols
2) from sexual immorality
3) from eating any animal that
had been strangled
4) from eating blood
 Significantly absent – the rule
about being circumcised
2. The Letter is Read to the Antioch Church [15:1-
21]
Why was The Letter to Antioch
Church necessary?
 Gentile believers had in writing the
decision reached by the church in
Jerusalem [that Gentiles do not need
to be circumcised in order to be
saved]
 It would be a written authoritative
record to confirm what the
messengers of the letter would be
saying
 They could inform other Gentile
churches about this
 In future there would not arise any
more disputes between Jews and
Gentile Christians on this same issue
2. The Letter is Read to the Antioch Church [15:1-
21]

Result of the Letter to Antioch

Church
 The Gentile Christians were:
1) No longer pressured to follow
the Jewish Law of Moses [in
particular the issue of
circumcision]
2) Free to live following the
teachings of Christ and the
apostles
2. The Letter is Read to the Antioch Church [15:1-21]
Arrival of messengers at Antioch
 Gathered the whole group of
Gentile believers
 Gave them the letter
The people’s response
 Filled with joy
Judas & Silas
 Prophets
 Spoke a long time with them
 Giving them courage & strength
 After some time, sent off to
Jerusalem in peace
3. Paul Separates from Barnabas [15:36-41]

Paul
 Suggested to Barnabas
 To go back & visit their brother
in every town where they had
preached the word of the Lord
and see how they were getting
along
Barnabas
 Agreed with Paul’s plan
 Wanted to take John Mark with
them
3. Paul Separates from Barnabas [15:36-41]
Paul
 Refused to bring John Mark
 Reason – John Mark had not
stayed with them to the end on
their 1st mission & left them in
Pamphylia
Paul & Barnabas
 Had a sharp disagreement and
separated
Barnabas – took Mark, sailed to
Cyprus

Paul – chose Silas, left for Syria and Cilicia, strengthening

the churches