Disagreements and a way forward.
In this chapter there are disagreements over the nature of salvation and over ministry partners.
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this questions.
Acts 15:1-2
Here the debate was about the nature of salvation: must a believer in Jesus follow all the old testament law, particularly being circumcised, in order to be saved.
There were disagreements back them just as there will be disagreements now. The question is how to handle them. When they affect the whole church, the appeal is made to the spiritual eldership to pray and consider God's will.
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
Acts 15:28-29
Their determination, led by the Holy Spirit, was that salvation is by the grace of God, not the external actions. However there are some acts of holiness that follow after salvation that were recommended as well.
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.
Acts 15:32 NIV
There are quite a few prophets around.
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