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 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. 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”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-five of the book of Acts Luke shared how the letters said, “It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you” where we read:
It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord,
to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
The verse begins, “It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, ...” Luke began with the words, “it seemed good unto us” which means “the following idea was judged, supposed and determined as pleasing and correct”, “being assembled” or “appearing and gathering together” “with one accord” which means “having one mind and one passion”. Luke shared how the letters from the church in Jerusalem included the idea that it was pleasing to them to write even as they were gathered together with one mind toward the following.
The verse continues, “... to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,” Luke added the words, “to send chosen men unto you” or “to dispatch and assign selected and elected male human beings to the church in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia” “with our beloved Barnabas” which means “alongside Barnabas whose name means son of rest and was dear, favored and worthy of love by the Jewish believers in Jerusalem” “and Paul” or “and Paul whose name means small or little”. Luke shared how the letters from Jerusalem included the idea of “dispatching” “selected men” who were to come alongside “Barnabas and Paul” who were dearly loved by the church.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn more of the content within the letters sent to the “church in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia”. The church in Jerusalem wanted the church in Antioch not only to know how they understood the difficulty they were facing, but also that they had dispatched specifically “chosen men” within the church who would accompany “Barnabas and Paul” to care for this matter. The church discussed the idea of the Gentile believers observing the rite of “circumcision” and “keeping the law of Moses”, and they determined how they would respond. They sent these letters to keep unity within the church of Jesus rather than division, and they decided to send some of their best and faithful men to assure the church in Antioch of their intentions. God loves people, and His desire is to have people within the church to love people and be of “one mind” toward each other and His mission. Those who examine the method of the church in Jerusalem as presented in these letters should understand God' love and desire to forgive every person who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus, and when they do, they should strive to keep unity within the church that will last for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how the letters referred to the way Barnabas and Paul, “hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”, 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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