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”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch” where we read:
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch:
and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
The verse begins, “So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch:” Luke began with the words, “so when they were dismissed” which means “therefore at the time and moment Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas were let go, sent away and departed”, “they came to Antioch” or Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas arose and appeared within Antioch which means driven against and was the Capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.C. and named in honor of his father, Antiochus”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas” left the other believers in Jerusalem, traveled to “Antioch of Syria” and entered the city.
The verse goes on to say, “and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:” Luke continued with the words, “and when they had gathered” or “and at the time and moment Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas assembled” “the multitude together” which means “and brought the crowd of people to meet with one another”, “they delivered the epistle” or “Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas gave over and surrendered the letter or written message from the church in Jerusalem”. Luke shared how “ Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas” assembled the crowd of believers and gave them the letter from the church in Jerusalem.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas “ carried out the decision that was made by the church in Jerusalem. They left Jerusalem and traveled to “Antioch in Syria”. There they gathered together the believers and gave them the letter written by the church. The Gentile believers were important to God, and this letter would relieve them of the constraints that were being promoted by some “Jewish believers” about being “circumcised” and “keeping the law of Moses” to be saved. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with every one of them through His Son Jesus. Anyone who yields themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. This letter was important to the Gentiles who began their walk with God, and God will always be watching over those who put their faith and trust in Him.
Next time Luke shares how the people in the church in Antioch read the letter, and “rejoiced for the consolation”, 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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