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 among them, Peter and James spoke, and they decided to sent letters of instruction to the Gentile believers and “to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren. And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared the letters said, “certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls” where we read:
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
The verse begins, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “forasmuch as we have heard” which means “since and because we, the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, were given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding”, “that certain which went out from us” or “that particular believers who were dispatched and assigned from the church in Jerusalem” “have troubled you with words” which means “agitated, disturbed, disquieted and made restless you, Gentiles believers in Antioch, by employing speeches, decrees and mandates”, “subverting your souls” or “unsettling, ravaging and upsetting your, Gentile believers', seats of the feelings, desires, affections and aversions”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how the letters from the church in Jerusalem included addressing the people who were dispatched to them who upset them by the “speeches and decrees” they spoke to them.
The verse goes on to say, “... You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:” Luke continued with the words, “you must be circumcised” or “it is needful and necessary for you, Gentile believers”, to have their prepuce (used of that well known rite by which not only the male children of the Israelites, on the eighth day after birth, but subsequently also "proselytes of righteousness" were consecrated to Jehovah and introduced into the number of his people”, “and keep the law” which means “and observe, attend to and carefully guard”: “to whom we gave no such commandment” or “and we, the leaders within the church in Jerusalem, did not grant, bestow, furnish or supply the rules, instructions and demands from these men”. Luke shared how the letters from the church in Jerusalem also included notifying the “Gentiles believers” that they did not direct these “men” to instruct them according to their mandates.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we discover more of the letters sent to the church in “Antioch of Syria”. The letters acknowledged the problem of these false speaking men and insured that the ideas of being “circumcised” and observing the “law of Moses” were not from them. God's desire is to save mankind by “faith”, and He will extend His forgiveness of sins and grace upon everyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will carefully examine the words spoken in this letter to the “Gentile believers” and submit themselves to the “One” who knows all they are to do and observe.
Next time Luke shares how the letters said, “It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you”, 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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