July 8, 2025 – Compilation of the One Week Meditational Bible Study from the Book of Acts 15 KJV
For Mithcah Bible Baptist Church Bahrain
Morning Online Devotional Bible Study and Group Prayer Fellowship July 9, 2025
“36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.”
LESSON: The Grace of GOD
Acts 15:1-5 KJV -
“1And certain men which came down from Judæataught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
A. This is the first condescending disputation that was experienced by Paul and Barnabas from the believing Jews; refuting their teaching of saving by grace through faith alone (Acts 16:31); they interjected with what they, the Jewish believers were taught to do: faith with obedience to the law of Moses(Acts 2:38)for them to be saved.
The Jewish believers’ disputations were as if they knew better; insisting the doctrine given only for them is the true and correct. Because the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles was hidden from them, it was only revealed to Apostle Paul. They were so confused and they could not understand why The LORD has not given the same doctrinal teachings for the Gentiles to Apostle Paul. It is still clear to them what the LORD taught them; they were there listening during the time JESUS taught them before His crucifixion.
That after Paul and Barnabas boldly stand and speak, for what the LORD taught them: that they should teach and lead the Gentile believers to this Gospel: that if they only accept GOD’s gift of salvation in CHRIST, believe that through faith in the LORD JESUS death, burial and resurrection, confessing with their mouth that GOD raised JESUS from the dead, they shall be saved;(Romans 10:9, 1 Cor.15:1-4) the contention arose between them. So, for them to be reconciled, they resorted and agreed together to consult the matter to the apostles which were in Jerusalem. And, so they went with them together to go back in Jerusalem. And while along the way, they could not contain themselves but keep preaching the gospel of grace; they proclaimed to those believers in Phenice and Samaria how the multitude of the Gentiles to whom they preached accepted, believed and were converted in the faith of JESUS CHRIST. This brought great joy to them who are in Samaria and Phenice.
As therefore we continue tending, teaching and being taught in the word of the LORD, we may encounter the same disputations. But let us not be shaken; for if we are confident that we are standing on the solid and pure word of The LORD, He will keep them be lead also in the truth.
Do not be discouraged but keep standing on the solid ground: which is the pure word of the LORD.
Acts 15:6-12 KJV
[6] And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
[7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
[8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
[9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
[10] Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
[11] But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
[12] Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
As the disputing parties were presented in the audience of the apostles and elders, Apostle Peter stood to testified how he was being called by The LORD to have witnessed to the Gentiles through the summoning of him by the Centurion Cornelius. To them was the LORD commanded him to preach salvation by grace through faith. And from that evangelizing, many got saved and with the HOLY GHOST they were filled.
We can assume that these converts did grow in grace, continued in prayer and learn more what they should observe, what they should do and what should not. For salvation changes the hearts and minds of a person; taking heed to study GOD’s words, learning the doctrine of grace with obedience to their Master and LORD JESUS CHRIST through the teaching of the Apostles.
There should not be contention nor imposing authority to everyone. For every called believers who indwells by the HOLY GHOST are expected to grow in learning from the words, living by the words and loving the words which was spoken of by JESUS: our Savior and LORD.
Spiritual growth then is concluded that it comes from listening, learning, living and loving the doctrine taught first by The LORD JESUS CHRIST, of which were, through the dispensation of grace was given to us by His apostles; to whom was given the authority to teach two different group of people: the Jews and the Gentiles which were and are now united as one in the body of CHRIST. One Faith, One Baptism, One Savior and One GOD in the Name of our Savior and LORD CHRIST JESUS.
To Him be glory forever and ever!
Amen!
Acts 15:13-29 KJV -
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”
Then after the resolution of the disputations, a letter from the Apostles and elders was written for the Gentile believers, which was initiated by James: the biological brother of The LORD JESUS; the Pastor and the noble Bishop of the Jerusalem Church. The contents of the letter to the church of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, containing these matters:
1. Confirmation from what Paul and Barnabas taught the Gentile people: they are ultimatelysaved by grace through faith. No more good works, such as circumcision and added rituals to earn salvation.
2. Commemorating with them of the grace of GOD, with the law of Moses about the four necessary things they should observe to abstainv.20,28,29:
3. Commending their sent- out missionaries as the chosen men to minister: Paul, Barnabas, Judas and Silas
4. Correcting the overlapping words spokenabout by certain Jews, who troubled them about the circumcision and the law that it should be observed for their salvation to be completed.
These are the words from the Apostles and elders of the church of Jerusalem; from whom and where everybody considered that the commission of evangelization started. Taking with them what The LORD has commanded them while He is ascending to heaven:
“Matthew 28:18-20 KJV - 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 KJV - 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
While our salvation has been confirmed, let us also commemorate these things which all of the early Christians observed; who have been taughtand tempered with testing and trials of their faith. Some of us are confused which way and words we should obey. But if we will keep in mind that we are a vessels-of-honor molded by TheLORD, and have been indwells by the HOLY GHOST, what He instructed us we must obey. There may be some struggles within our mind, but we must remember that we are commended bythe Most High GOD who counted us as His beloved children. Children of light and not of darkness. Let our minds, hearts and disposition be regularly corrected by the word of GOD; to not be always easily convinced by our own intellectual reasonings. For our self- righteousness may fails us; but obedience in the word of CHRIST will lead us to a higher level of our faith that will surely ushers us to a more noble manner way of living.
Let go of our pride and let GOD perfected His works within us.
Acts 15:30-35 KJV
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.”
Words of contentions brings division, but words of encouragement uplift the spirit and brings consolation.
From these acts of the Apostles comes the words from the LORD; the very truth which we have right now and have become the basis of our faith and practices; even giving us this insight that no one called to serve The LORD should overstep nor overlap the words from the LORD spoken of by another, who is called for the specific field of work the LORD intended to have given to him, who is purposefully called and sanctified minister for that specific works.
This clarifies that each one has calling. If Paul and Barnabas were sanctified and were separated by the HOLY GHOST, called to serve to minister to the Gentiles, they must have done their works without interruption; except from the unbelieving which were already foretold by The LORD JESUS to them, then we’re supposed to be steadfast in the ministry wherewith the LORD called us to serve. These should enlighten and encourage us to keep on going.
Let nothing hinders us from the work to which the LORD called us to do.
May the LORD find us faithfully doing everythingfor Him.
Acts 15:35-41 KJV - 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
B. The first contention detailed as sharp between two evangelism partners sanctified and separated by the HOLY GHOST: between Paul and Barnabas.
The Reason: John Mark inconsistency.
Both of them are right and have their own reasons. But the contention is so sharp that they could not come to agreement until they decided to parted their ways.
Both yielded fruits from their ministries, and both have been reconciled before their missionary journey have come to an end.
This implies that sometimes, the LORD might have stirred up contention for His beloved servants to stand on their own. That is the beauty of diversities. Our individualities and perceptions are useful to the ministries which may be effective to some people with common grounds as ours. No talent nor one’s discretion is wasted if it is wholeheartedly offered to serving The LORD, particularly in affecting other people’s lives.
We just have to always commune and be always willing to consult GOD through our sincere and earnest prayers. Giving to Him all of our cares and concerns. Willing to surrender all to His blessed will. Loving Him first before anyone or anything else, and Living within the perimeter of His protective care. For the grace of GOD diversifies our characters from one to another. Even our talents and our mind-setting are not totally alike to one of our peers. This is the balance the LORD sets for us human beings. All are individually created in His image and in His likeness. But sin separated us from Him, that need to have sent us our Redeemer. And now that we are being called, it is a great opportunity to avail the bountiful grace of GOD, by making us available to be use for the spreading of the Gospel. Let each of us keep on growing in learning the word, keep on going to share His word, and keep on glowing that other’s may see the difference in living by His words.
Let our days started with thanksgiving, with our hearts full of gratitude.
Have a pleasant morning to all.
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