Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
God first reached out to the Gentile nations Himself to turn them from idolatry and to take, choose and form from among them a people who belong to Him, bear His name and are devoted to Him. The saying was spoken in the dispute over whether uncircumcised Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be admitted to the church and saved. God had already settled that question by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, so the apostles and elders at Jerusalem had only to follow the Spirit's leading and recognize them as God's people. They therefore decided that Gentile converts were not required to be circumcised or to keep the ceremonial law, and that decision opened the way of faith to the Gentiles and united Jewish and Gentile believers. That same gathering continues to the end, when the final message of warning and mercy will go to every nation, kindred and tongue to gather and prepare a people for Himself before the earth is lightened with His glory.
Jerusalem Council Setting
The verse stands in a brief dispute over circumcision and the law of Moses, over whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be granted admission to the church. After the resurrection and ascension the gospel had been preached in union, with believers all of one heart and one mind, and this question caused division only for a short time. That matter was soon settled.
The dispute was settled at Jerusalem by the apostles and elders acting as counselors and allowing the Holy Spirit to judge. Paul reported there before that same assembly in that same city, years before his later visit with gifts, relating his conversion experience and the great work God had wrought through him among the Gentiles. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to the word spoken about God's work among the Gentiles. Under its influence the council yielded its prejudices and expressed itself as in harmony with Paul's position.
The council then sent an address to the churches to that effect. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria and reported what God had done with them in opening the way of faith to the Gentiles. Gentile believers received the decision with joy and consolation. That church at Antioch was a large and growing missionary church made up of many classes of people from both Jews and Gentiles.
God had already decided the question of Gentile inclusion by giving the Gentiles the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had thus already settled the question of their acceptance. The council's task was to follow the Spirit's guidance with wisdom and sound judgment in recognizing them as God's people.
The council recognized that God had called Paul to preach the truth to the Gentiles just as Peter was especially called to the Jews. It received Paul as an equal fellow laborer. Its decision acknowledged Paul's apostleship, and Paul complied with and was guided by its decisions in his labors among the Gentiles.
The council decided that Gentile converts were not required to be circumcised or to keep the ceremonial law, the Mosaic ordinances, or the entire ceremonial law as a condition of salvation or belonging to the church. They were not to be burdened with it. That decision remained in force, and marked Christianity's departure from Jewish ceremonies and traditions. Later advice to follow ceremonial requirements to appease unbelieving Jews was inconsistent with it and was not prompted by the Holy Spirit.
Some Jewish Christians resisted the decision because they prized the Jews' national privileges and the ceremonial law, remained zealous for it, and were jealous of Paul's work among the Gentiles. Through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. This unity shows that differences among Christians did not remain, that God leads His people, that church officers are not given authority to rule or command His laborers, and that such oneness in faith, judgment, and practice is always the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
God Gathering a People
God took the initiative in reaching the Gentiles, visiting them to open the way of faith and to turn them to Him from idolatry. From among the Gentiles He takes, chooses, forms, and gathers a people for His name. They are devoted to Him, belonging to Him, chosen for Himself, brought into the Christian community, and bearing His name.
God intended the Gentiles to share the privileges given to the Jews, for Christ's saving work embraced the whole world and not only the Hebrews. The council's recognition of this purpose allowed the Gentile work to proceed and united believers. Gentile converts were to be welcomed without perplexing demands that could discourage them from following Christ.
The same gathering applies to the last generation. The final message of warning and mercy will reach every nation, kindred, and tongue to gather this people, before the earth is lightened with God's glory. Those gathered are called Christians, a royal name given to those who join themselves to Christ. God gathers and prepares this people for Himself, and they have victories to gain through faith in Christ.
God first reached out to the Gentile nations Himself to turn them from idolatry and to take, choose and form from among them a people who belong to Him, bear His name and are devoted to Him. The saying was spoken in the dispute over whether uncircumcised Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be admitted to the church and saved. God had already settled that question by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, so the apostles and elders at Jerusalem had only to follow the Spirit's leading and recognize them as God's people. They therefore decided that Gentile converts were not required to be circumcised or to keep the ceremonial law, and that decision opened the way of faith to the Gentiles and united Jewish and Gentile believers. That same gathering continues to the end, when the final message of warning and mercy will go to every nation, kindred and tongue to gather and prepare a people for Himself before the earth is lightened with His glory.
Jerusalem Council Setting
The verse stands in a brief dispute over circumcision and the law of Moses, over whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be granted admission to the church. After the resurrection and ascension the gospel had been preached in union, with believers all of one heart and one mind, and this question caused division only for a short time. That matter was soon settled.
The dispute was settled at Jerusalem by the apostles and elders acting as counselors and allowing the Holy Spirit to judge. Paul reported there before that same assembly in that same city, years before his later visit with gifts, relating his conversion experience and the great work God had wrought through him among the Gentiles. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to the word spoken about God's work among the Gentiles. Under its influence the council yielded its prejudices and expressed itself as in harmony with Paul's position.
The council then sent an address to the churches to that effect. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch in Syria and reported what God had done with them in opening the way of faith to the Gentiles. Gentile believers received the decision with joy and consolation. That church at Antioch was a large and growing missionary church made up of many classes of people from both Jews and Gentiles.
God had already decided the question of Gentile inclusion by giving the Gentiles the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had thus already settled the question of their acceptance. The council's task was to follow the Spirit's guidance with wisdom and sound judgment in recognizing them as God's people.
The council recognized that God had called Paul to preach the truth to the Gentiles just as Peter was especially called to the Jews. It received Paul as an equal fellow laborer. Its decision acknowledged Paul's apostleship, and Paul complied with and was guided by its decisions in his labors among the Gentiles.
The council decided that Gentile converts were not required to be circumcised or to keep the ceremonial law, the Mosaic ordinances, or the entire ceremonial law as a condition of salvation or belonging to the church. They were not to be burdened with it. That decision remained in force, and marked Christianity's departure from Jewish ceremonies and traditions. Later advice to follow ceremonial requirements to appease unbelieving Jews was inconsistent with it and was not prompted by the Holy Spirit.
Some Jewish Christians resisted the decision because they prized the Jews' national privileges and the ceremonial law, remained zealous for it, and were jealous of Paul's work among the Gentiles. Through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. This unity shows that differences among Christians did not remain, that God leads His people, that church officers are not given authority to rule or command His laborers, and that such oneness in faith, judgment, and practice is always the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
God Gathering a People
God took the initiative in reaching the Gentiles, visiting them to open the way of faith and to turn them to Him from idolatry. From among the Gentiles He takes, chooses, forms, and gathers a people for His name. They are devoted to Him, belonging to Him, chosen for Himself, brought into the Christian community, and bearing His name.
God intended the Gentiles to share the privileges given to the Jews, for Christ's saving work embraced the whole world and not only the Hebrews. The council's recognition of this purpose allowed the Gentile work to proceed and united believers. Gentile converts were to be welcomed without perplexing demands that could discourage them from following Christ.
The same gathering applies to the last generation. The final message of warning and mercy will reach every nation, kindred, and tongue to gather this people, before the earth is lightened with God's glory. Those gathered are called Christians, a royal name given to those who join themselves to Christ. God gathers and prepares this people for Himself, and they have victories to gain through faith in Christ.