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. Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared, “after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace” where we read:
And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
The verse begins, “And after they had tarried there a space, ...” Luke began with the words, “and after they had tarried there” which means “and following the time when Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas stayed and remained in Antioch of Syria” “a space” or “for a duration of time”. Luke shared how Judas and Silas remained in Antioch for a while and did the following.
The verse continues, “... they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.” Luke added the words, “they were let go” or “Judas and Silas were dispatched and dismissed” “in peace” which means “in tranquility, calm, harmony and concord” “from the brethren” or “apart and separate from the fellow Gentile believers who were united to each other by the bond of affection” “unto the apostles” which means “toward the delegates, messengers and sent forth ones of Jesus”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas” were dismissed from the “Gentile brothers” in Antioch in a spirit of calm and harmony.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas” stayed with the Gentile believers in Antioch for some time, and then were released to leave to return to the “apostles” in Jerusalem. We shall see how that worked out in our next verse, but for now, let us be mindful that the training and instruction given to the Gentile believers was for a certain time period, and then they were released. God wants a loving personal relationship with every person who yields themselves to Him through His Son Jesus, and when they surrender to Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who read these words submit themselves to Jesus and be instructed by others in the faith until God's timing for them is completed.
Next time Luke shares how, “it pleased Silas to abide there still”, 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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