The beloved physician Luke shared when Paul, Barnabas and their companions came to Jerusalem, “a certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed” were “saying” about the Gentile believers “That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” After much discussion, the church in Jerusalem decided to, “send chosen men unto” Antioch with their “beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” They also wrote in a letter, “We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare you well. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how the people in the church in Antioch read the letter and “rejoiced for the consolation” where we read:
Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
The verse begins, “Which when they had read, ...” Luke began with the words, “which when” which means “that at the time and moment” “they had read” or “the Gentile believers in the church in Antioch distinguished, recognized, knew accurately and acknowledge the writing” the following occurred. Luke shared how the Gentile believers who were part of the church in Antioch of Syria “read and understood” the letter sent to them and had the following reaction.
The verse continues, “... they rejoiced for the consolation.” Luke added the words, “they rejoiced” or “the Gentile believers in the church of Antioch were exceedingly glad and cheerful” “for the consolation” which means “because, since and on account of the summons, exhortation, encouragement and comfort”. Luke shared how the Gentile believers in the church of Antioch “celebrated and were exceedingly glad” when they understood the encouragement and comfort the church in Jerusalem extended to them.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we discover not only that the Gentile believers in Antioch “read” the letter sent by the church in Jerusalem, but they also were “cheerful and exceedingly glad” over the words which were in it. There was “relief” expressed by the church in Jerusalem because the Gentile believers would no longer be “required” to be “circumcised” or to “keep the law of Moses” in order to be saved. Paul the apostle wrote, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (See Ephesians 2:8-9) The Gentile believers understood their salvation was based upon their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and when they submitted their lives to Him, He would forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law, and when He died on the cross, He paid the penalty of death for the sins that separated people from God. Those who surrender their lives to Him will be “saved”, and there are no works or deeds that may be done afterward that will add anything to their “salvation”.
Next time Luke shares how, “Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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