Acts 15 - Lessons from the Council at Jerusalem

The chapter that records the Jerusalem Council and the decision made.

“… that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” (Acts 15:29)

The verse in the Bible that we often turned to after a Baptism Sacrament. Hence, the conclusion at the Council has also become a starting guideline for new believers today.

Coming together…
It all started when certain men started teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation. I am not sure if these men were sincerely teaching something which they believed is true, or they were just trying to create trouble within the church. In any case, it seems that even after serious debates with Paul and Barnabas, no conclusion can be made. And so, what did they do? Did they break off into their own factions, holding on to what each believe to be true? When we cannot reach an agreement with our co-workers in church (especially for matters concerning the truth), what do we do?

I like how the church decided that Paul, Barnabas and some others should go up to Jerusalem to ask the apostles and elders about the issue (Acts 15:2).

I like how the apostles, leaders, elders of the early Church saw the need to come together to discuss about the matter (Acts 15:6).

They saw a need to come together to work out something when things are going separate ways. Do we also see that need, or have we unknowingly allowed some slight deviations to fester and grow into a huge divide within the church?

… to reach a consensus
I believe that the Council at Jerusalem was not a short one. Judging from how they had much dispute (Acts 15:7), and how one by one the apostles stood up and spoke (Peter reminded them about the grace given to the Gentiles, then Barnabas and Paul reported on the doings of God among the Gentiles, James concluded the meeting), it must have taken quite a long while. However, they had come together… to have a consensus and a conclusion. That was a goal they had in mind. Therefore, it was not an option that they end the meeting without any conclusion.

How often have we had meetings that had no conclusions (I think these meetings are such a waste of time!)? Is it because there was no same goal in mind?

I also like how the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:12).

And how James waited for Barnabas and Paul to finish before he spoke (Acts 15:13).

Giving everyone a chance to speak up, and listening when others are speaking, perhaps these are little lessons we can pick up so that every meeting or discussion is time well spent.

The need to come together to reach a consensus, giving everyone a chance to speak and listening while others are speaking; these are lessons for me from the Council at Jerusalem. What are some other lessons you have learnt?