Received of the Church in Jerusalem - Acts 15:4

The beloved physician Luke shared how, “certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren”, and in chapter fifteen and verse four of the book of Acts Luke shared when Paul and Barnabas, “were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church”, where we read:

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

The verse begins, “And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they were come” which means “and at the time and moment Paul, Barnabas and the contingency with them arose, appeared, arrived and entered” “to Jerusalem” or “in the place whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”, “they were received of the church” which means “Paul, Barnabas and those with them were approved, welcomed and accepted gladly by the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “and of the apostles” or “and by Jesus' delegates, messengers and sent forth ones” “and elders” which means “and senior ranking Christians who presided over the church”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and those with them from the church in Antioch of Syria” were “gladly accepted” by the “apostles, elders and assembly of believers” in Jerusalem.

The verse goes on to say, “... and they declared all things that God had done with them.” Luke continued with the words, “and they declared all things” or “and Paul, Barnabas and those with them from the church in Antioch uttered, proclaimed and spoke of each, every, the whole and everything” “that God had done with them” which means “that the Heavenly Father God made ready, produced and provided with Paul, Barnabas and those with them”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and the others with them” began to share all “God” did through them as they ventured into the “Gentile” cities.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how “Paul, Barnabas and those with them from the church in Antioch” arrived in “Jerusalem” and were “gladly received” by the apostles, elders and believers within it. God's “church” was alive, prospering and spreading even as “Paul, Barnabas and those with them” told of all that He performed through them. God's desire was for everyone to have an opportunity to know Him personally through His Son Jesus, and when they yield to Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life in Heaven. Let all who carefully study God's success of sharing His gospel through these men understand, He desires to have everyone joyfully receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and He will use them to further His Kingdom to invite others in.

Next time Luke shares how, “there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them”, 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".