Paul and Barnabas knew that through many tribulations they must enter the kingdom of God. As the church grows, order and structure continue to be required – here we see the first church council and constitution.
Acts 14: Paul and Barnabas at Iconium
1 Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles.
5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,
6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country,
7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.
Paul and Barnabas at Lystra
8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.
9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,
10 said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking.
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.
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.
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.
Paul Stoned at Lystra
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.
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.
Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria
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 15: The Jerusalem Council
1 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.
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.
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.
7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,
9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
18 known from of old.'
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."
The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers
22 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,
23 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.
24 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,
25 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,
26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:
29 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."
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
34
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 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."
37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
38 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.
39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Things to think about…
1. The ministry of Paul and Barnabas at Iconium is typical of what happens when the Holy Spirit does His work, Acts 14:1-7. People get saved, signs and wonders are done, vs 3, but these don’t convert the heart to Christ. As such there are many who are angry and stir up trouble. It was so bad the Apostles had to flee to the other towns of Lystra and Derbe. Persecution is often used by the Lord to take the gospel into the next mission field.
2. Paul and Barnabas’ healing of the lame man at Lystra, Acts 14:8-10, is similar to Peter and John’s at Jerusalem in Acts 3:1-10. Notice that the people wanted to praise ‘the gods’ at Lystra, yet in Jerusalem they praised the Lord. Even though when we teach the truth it seems as if nothing is happening, good theology is never wasted. When the Lord does a great work and people have a right understanding of the Lord even though they don’t know Him, when they see the miraculous they praise Him and not a false god because He is the God of their initial instruction. This is why teaching children at home as well as RI in schools and kids church ministries are an essential part of the work of evangelism for the church.
3. It’s interesting in Acts 14:14-18 that these men of Lystra believed in Greek mythology, E.g Zeus and Hermes. Paul says that the Lord did not leave them without a witness but blessed them with the common necessities of rain and abundance in harvest. Hence they were without excuse and they are now required to repent. This is similar to what Paul writes to the Romans in Romans 1. The same is true today for all who have not been raised in Christianity or heard the gospel but are in fact from a Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu culture. We are all made in the image of God and are in fact without excuse through what we see in the world and receive from His hand of provision.
4. A wonderful miracle was done at Lystra and yet when troublemakers who hated the gospel arrived from Antioch and Iconium Paul was stoned by the same crowd that rejoiced in the miracle and was left for dead, Acts 14:19. The people of Lystra had gone from praise to punishment of the apostles. After the disciples gathered around Paul and prayed for healing Paul then goes back to the cities of Lystra, Iconium and Antioch strengthening the disciples and appointing elders. Note that the Antioch mentioned here is the one in Asia not Syria. The Antioch mentioned in Acts 14:26, the Syrian Antioch, is north of Israel – in modern day Syria/Turkey. The Syrian Antioch was where Barnabas and Saul were originally set apart for the work of ministry. A strong and vibrant church was established at this Antioch, Acts 14:26-28.
5. Peter can be bold when he needs to be. In Acts 15:7-11 he reminds the gathered assembly in Jerusalem of his vision of the sheet coming down 3 times with unclean animals and that the Lord was calling them (the Gentiles) clean. After this, the assembly fell silent, vs 12 and the assembly had some clear air to hear the testimony of Paul and Barnabas and what the Lord had done through them among the Gentiles. This is where a word of truth spoken with right heart in season can bring clarity to a crowd. I have witnessed it occur many times in church meetings where there was the potential for division, only to conclude with a unanimous vote confirming the Lord’s will.
6. Saved by grace, (Acts 15:11)! This needs to constantly be shouted from the rooftops. If it is not, then our wicked hearts will want to add in a little of the leaven of works. This diminishes the work of the cross and denies that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient. This of course is blasphemy. The Jerusalem counsel in Acts 15 was a defining point in the history of the Jerusalem church and the church in general. Peter acknowledges salvation by grace, vs 11. Paul and Barnabas speak of their ministry and how the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles. But what sealed the deal? It was James who spoke the word of God to the assembly. He explained that it was scriptural as to what was happening with the Gentiles. This is the thing that must keep us all in check. Regardless of our experience and what happens outwardly, our faith and practise must be confirmed by scripture.
7. Look at this first century church constitution, Acts15:23-29. It’s very simple. Note that it was to relieve, bless and guide the Gentile disciples. We trust that our statement of faith and our constitution do the same as we continually assess these documents. Constitutions must change to reflect the needs and requirements of the day. Things “strangled and offered to idols” as well as “eating food with animal blood” are cases in point that concerned the first century churches. Note that while the law was acknowledged it was considered a burden not able to be borne, vs 10 and Peter reasoned that to have the Gentiles keep the law would be testing God. Constitutions and statements of faith should reflect grace and promote holiness through the work of the spirit, and never be a series of legal hoops to jump through.
8. The letter from Jerusalem achieved its purpose, Acts 15:31, 32. If church constitutions and policies do not edify and encourage the people of God and further promote the gospel then they do not promote the purpose of Christ. These examples will only bring glory to man and not the Lord. As such church constitutions and governing documents must always be assessed as more light from scripture is given.
9. Sometimes you will see a verse that is missing, E.G Acts 15:34 is not in the ESV. It is not that these verses have been omitted without purpose. The majority of texts in Greek don’t have them and as such the translators’ observation is that these verses, including this one, were not part of the original text written by Luke. These verses have caused some dispute within Christendom through the recent centuries but there are no doctrines that are missing with their omission.
10. Paul and Barnabas separate over John Mark, Acts 15:36-41. Was this a sad event? Yes, because it caused division in the church, but even in this, the gospel spread – to Cyprus with Barnabas and in Syria and Cilicia by Paul who went out ‘strengthening the churches’, vs 41. We know Paul would later reconcile with Mark by adding to his letter to Timothy to “get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” 2Tim 4:11. Sometimes reconciliation takes time. It certainly takes grace. Pray that this is the case within families and churches. This is the power of the gospel on display.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. On break over the school holidays.
Young adult Life group – Onbreak over school holidays
Prayer Points
1. The beginning of “The Blessed Life” series. The encouragement of the ‘Stories’ we heard on Sunday.
2. Pray for Lauren as her brother has just passed this morning. She is with the family in South Africa now.
3. Keep praying for Anna and the Playgroup on Fridays, pray for more families to be reached.
4. Pray for Chaplaincy and Kids Hope at Karalee State School.
5. The ongoing conflict in Israel and Ukraine.
6. Church finances to continue to grow and expenses to be more than met.
7. Pray for Kids@Church, Life groups. Young Adults back this week.
8. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, 5:30pm at church. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
9. Pray about the possibility and planning of a Farmers Market at Chuwar Baptist Church on Saturdays. Anastasia taking the lead on this. Pray for us as we plan
10. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
11. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. New folk this week. Pray the stories speak to those in the building and online.
2. Worship team did a great job.
3. Praise God for young people stepping up in the worship ministry.
4. Playgroup is a great encouragement for our church.
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. The blessed life – Part 2 “God must be first”. This Sunday morning
2. Working bee Saturday morning 27th July. Please contact Che for a list jobs and requirements.
3. Monday and Wednesday evening prayer at church 5:30-6:30pm
4. Life Group Wednesday 6:30pm at church – start back this week.
5. Young Adults Life group starts this week after church.
6. Kids@Church starts back this week. Check your roster out today.
7. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
8. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for July...
Q. 22. What is Sin? A. Sin is any transgression of the law of God.
Bible References – 1Jn.3:4; Rom.3:20; James 2:9-11
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” Jer 33:3
