After the Jerusalem Council, the apostles had to clarify their stance in a letter which would be delivered and read by Barnabas and Paul to the Gentile churches. The Jerusalem Church, the mother church, made it clear that they had not endorsed imposing circumcision on Gentile believers.
we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions (Acts 15:24).
Notice that the crucial word "circumcision" does not appear in the entire letter (Acts 15:23-29). It was only implicitly referred to as shown in verse 24. Obviously, the stakes were high for the Jerusalem Church to clash with the Jewish authority. On this crucial point, they chose to be ambiguous in writing. They did not want to hand the Jewish authority a stagger to stab them. Therefore, sending Barnabas and Paul with the letter was a sensible decision because written words could not explain themselves. They are dead and prone to misinterpretation. Barnabas and Paul were present at the Council. They were able to supply more eye-witness information which was not found in the letter and were able to correct any misunderstanding or misreading of the letter.
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 brethren,
with the following letter: (Acts 15:22-23a)
Naturally, the next question is why they sent Judas Barsabbas and Silas as well. Were Barnabas and Paul not enough?
Let us step back for a while. If you were Paul, to be precise the early Paul, would you accept a letter of such wordings? Remember how Paul scolded Peter openly for shying away from Gentile brethren in the presence of the "circumcision party" (Galatians 2:11-16). I guess Paul must have fought hard to have the crucial word "circumcision" included in the letter but to no avail. Paul would have been unhappy about it.
Therefore, it was reasonable to send two leading men from the Jerusalem Church to present a more balanced view, to explain why the word "circumcision" was not explicitly stated and to reassure them the seriousness the Jerusalem Church attached to this issue.
How did the Jerusalem Church introduce these two men to the Gentile churches? They were men who had risked their lives for Lord Jesus.
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 sake of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 15:25-26).
In other words, the Jerusalem Church was committed to uphold this decision for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. They pledged it with their lives.
How did Judas and Silas discharge their mission?
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them.
And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brethren to those who had sent them (Acts 15:32-33).
There are two Barsabbas's in the Acts: Joseph Barsabbas who was one of the two candidates qualified to replace Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:23), and this Judas Barsabbas, a prophet. Were they one and the same person? We don't know. Anyway, this Judas Barsabbas and Silas were able to exhort and strengthen the Gentile brethren. The tension between the Gentile churches and the mother church was reduced and removed. Peace was temporarily restored within the Church. Paul and Barnabas were ready to embark on their second missionary journey. Immediately, peace was shattered. Paul and Barnabas parted way over the issue of bringing John Mark along. Paul refused to bring him along because Mark left them halfway during the first missionary journey in Perga (Acts 13:13) but Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance.
And there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15:39-41).
After all, saints are mortals like anyone of us. Luckily for us, with God's grace, they were reconciled in the end.
The Jerusalem Council has successfully resolved the tension created by the admission of Gentiles into the Church. Good packaging was also important making it a success. Good contents deserve good packaging.
These days, John and I interviewed three applicants for the post of RS panel head. Reading their resumes and experiencing their passion in the interviews, I humble myself. My work in these years is insignificant. I have contributed too little for the formation of the students God has entrusted in my hand. I am sorry.
Dear Lord, I praise You for Your wisdom. Every success hinges on Your blessing. I pray that You rekindle my passion in my remaining days to bring Your good news of reconciliation to all. Amen.
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