All Tribes and Peoples

Day 174: Acts 15:1-35

“And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.” - Acts 15:31-32 ESV

Dealing with conflict, for many of us, causes feelings of angst or discouragement. There is a deep feeling that we are wasting time and energy that could be better spent in other ways during any dispute.

Even so, how we pivot from disagreements will define us and the organizations or companies that we work for or alongside.

For the first century Christians, they had to undo the belief that the Israelites were somehow superior to the nations (Gentiles). God had irrefutably spoken through the experience with Cornelius, and now it was time to put it into practice, especially for the Jews in Jerusalem.

The solution, though it may seem odd to us (being culturally removed), was a huge hit with the non-Jewish Christians in Antioch. They didn't need to become Jewish to follow Jesus. Retaining their own cultural identities was not only to be tolerated, but it was also to be celebrated; so that Revelation 7:9-10 can be someday fulfilled:  “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

“The decrees from the council in Jerusalem were received with genuine happiness because of their 'encouraging message.' For the disciples at Antioch the decision of the council was a victory, confirming their policy toward Gentile converts who were not forced to be circumcised. The four requirements were viewed as a measure to ease the fellowship of Jewish and Gentile believers." - Gaertner, D. (1995). Acts (Ac 15:30–35)