Acts 15

It's hard to imagine how difficult it was for the apostles to deal with some of the Jews regarding the Law of Moses and the traditions that have been practiced for hundreds and hundreds of years. In this chapter, a debate arose over circumcision, the very covenant that marked you as a child of God, as a one of His people. Some men "came down" and taught that the apostles were teaching that everyone must still be circumcised in order to be saved. This was easy for the Jewish men to propose since they were circumcised when eight days old. I would think it's not a pleasant thought for the adult male converts who were gentiles.

This caused quite a division among the church and so a general conference was held in Jerusalem. This is about 50 a.d. The big question was, do gentile converts have to not only keep the covenant of circumcision, but the hundreds of obligations and traditions the Jews attached to the old law.

Peter, who is presiding, stands and bears testimony that none of these things can bring salvation; salvation comes only in and through Christ. Paul and Barnabas then give a missionary report. James stands and bears witness that the old law is insufficient and but suggests that the gentiles be asked to refrain from eating meat offered to idols and abstain from fornications, things strangled and blood - all of these were involved in the mystery cults such as those of Dionysus and Cybele. James is asking Jews to stay away from the Law Of Moses and gentiles to stay away from pagan practices. For Jews, this is a very sensitive issue and the apostles are approaching this gently. A letter is sent out and then leaders are sent to teach all of this to the people.

Paul begins his second missionary journey and Barnabas wants to bring Mark. For some reason, Mark and Paul have sharp differences and Paul goes one way and Mark and Barnabas another. Later, Paul and Mark will apparently reconcile. It's good to see that apostles are human with problems and shortcomings like the rest of us.