Acts of the Apostles
Chapter
15
1. Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 1)
Oh God my Father how important it is for us Christians and Roman Catholics, to be updated about the faith and about the encyclical's of the Vatican Council and recent letters by Pope Francesco, because even among ourselves if we are in error on truths and dogmas and teachings about current issues such as homosexuality among others we will be mistaken ourselves, and may also hinder others who may hold as truth all that we say about You even if we are mistaken. In order to be of help, I have included the following link which is the homepage of the Vatican, where we can find the latest updates and all that we are to know. I invite you to check Your ideas and beliefs in order to see if they are intact with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church as inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.
Vatican Homepage
2. And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 2)
Oh God my Father, how beautiful it is to treat our problems and issues in a spirit of dialogue instead of quarrels rebellions and confrontation that leads to divisions instead of unity. At times we may arrive at a point, that aiming for a win-lose situation may result in winning the argument but, however leaving a negative effect on the relationship. At times it would be wiser to aim for a win - win situation were all win to some degree and nobody loses, therefore a settlement is reached that favours both parties, especially if the issue is trivial and not a matter of life and death. On needs to decide which is of most value, the argument or the relationship and keep that in mind as a starting point. Amen.
3. So they were sent on their by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 3)
Oh God my Father, I had many jobs throughout my live and consider myself as an all-rounder. However, I view this not as being incapable of performing as required, but as being sent on a mission to speak about You to a particular person or persons. Although my external performance was not efficient to reach the desired goal, You gave me the skills to be efficient on a spiritual level and a lot of good was done. Today I am working in a call centre which I also believe that You sent me there to continue this mission of spreading the Good News. Amen. I pray oh God my Father, that You keep on using me in the spreading of Your Good News Amen.
4. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 4)
Oh God my Father what a nice feeling it would be for all if the priest and other Roman Catholics and Christians made us feel at home on going to Church especially on Sunday. If we all welcomed each other with a brotherly and sisterly big hug and were asked about our spiritual welfare more than our social welfare. How motivating it would be to find a new family that really cares waiting, for us. Only then the meaning of true fellowship and brotherhood and sisterhood would be experienced.
5. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses"
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 5)
Oh God my Father during our times and even those before us and even in the future there will always be many voices, that dictate this and that about You, however, all these voices, although they might have a good intention may be the actual truth. However, if we believe in You and also believe that You guide the Roman Catholic Church and even other churches by the power of the Holy Spirit in order to enlighten our ways. Even though I am a Roman Catholic oh God my Father I never block out any teachings of others, for it may well be that You may be speaking by means of others. Although I always keep in mind Your teachings I also keep in mind that at some point in time You could even speak to me by those who are against me or who have a different value and belief system. Therefore, while activating our filter, we are to be tolerant of others, for it would be a great loss if You happen to be talking to us and our hearts are hardened due to our bias against others and their belief systems and values.
6. The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. 7. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. 8. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; 9. and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. 10. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11. On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will|"
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 6 to 11)
Oh Holy Spirit of the Almighty God, I greatly thank You for enlightening the hearts and minds of Popes Bishops and even priests, and by speaking and leading us by means of their physical presence. Throughout the years as a consequence, there have been many encyclicals that all reflect Your presence, one of change and illumination, and not of stagnation. I pray that You keep on shedding light on the current issues that we are experiencing in 2016 so that we will keep on walking in Your ways Amen.
12. The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 12)
Oh God my Father, how nice it is for us to listen to each other as we share our experiences of Your intervention in our lives, in order for all to be built in spirit and in faith. Amen. Even though there was a hot issue at stake, all the parties involved listened to each other and those responsible compared the proclamation of Paul and Barnabas with all that was written in the books of the prophets in relation to the gentiles including us for we can also be classified as gentiles for we are not Hebrews. I thank You, God for giving us the opportunity to be included in Your Church Amen.
13. After they had finished speaking, James replied, "My brothers, listen to me. 14. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. 15. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written, 16. 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up, 17. so that all other peoples may seek the Lord even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things 18. known from long ago.'
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 13 to 17)
Oh God being Your followers we base our life and all that we know about the message of the Good News, anything that is not according to Your Word needs to be considered before being accepted. Amen. The world teaches us many things and theories, however, we are to consider if the message agrees with the values and teaching of Your 'Good News' Amen.
19. Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, 20. but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood, 21. For in every city, for generations Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 19 to 21)
Oh God my Father, I thank You for not making us bear more than we can carry, especially if we are still in the beginning of our relationship with You. Amen.
22. Then the apostles and the elders with the consent of the whole church decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, 23. with the following letter; "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, 25. we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26. who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials; 29. that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 22 to 29)
Oh God my Father You gave us an example of how decisions are taken. During this meeting or council, a very important issue was treated. The core issue was that of whether we are to issue rules or ways of life, to new Catholics or Roman Catholics who have just converted to the faith with too many rules or be rigid in the execution of such rules. People who are still new to the faith are to be treated with special care for if not they may feel discouraged and go back to their old ways. Therefore care is to be taken on what we say to others about our faith, for we can easily lead others astray by what we say. As long as what we say reflects Your teachings may we all continue to spread the message fo the Good News Amen.
30. So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31. When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 30 to 31)
Oh God, my Father how sweet is the state of dialogue! In a spirit of dialogue, many issues can be dealt with and a trust -worthy conclusion that is good for all parties can be agreed on. Amen
32. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 32)
Oh God my Father, may we all be prophets in the sense of having a positive attitude that encourages and empathises with others instead of being negative and cynical. Amen.
33. After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. 35. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they proclaimed the word of the Lord.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 33 to 35)
Oh God my Father this is the life of the missionary, when one has fulfilled the purpose of one's mission, when the new-formed community of believers is strong enough to start making its first independent steps like a baby who has started walking it is time to move on to another group of believers who are still in an atheist stage of their religious life. However by no means are toddlers abandoned completely to themselves, for You appointed Bishops and other leaders among the same group of new believers to continue leading the group in Your name and thus the foundations of a new structure are in place Amen.
The same applies to our spiritual life. In the very beginning of our relationship with You, we need much mentoring, however, the more You permit us to grow, the more we can continue to advance and help others to do likewise Amen. I greatly thank you for never abandoning us. Amen.
36. After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 36)
Oh, God almighty how nice it is to take care of Your children. Since the time of our birth, You never stop caring for us. I feel very secure to have You as my Father knowing that You are there all the time as my primary means of support. Paul wished to evaluate the spiritual welfare of those communities or the new group of believers in order to see how they were doing. It is nice to evaluate our own spiritual welfare not only our physical and financial, however when the communities started growing and when there were more countries still awaiting the Good News this may have appeared to be not as practical as Paul may have had considered it to be. However as in all cases, Your Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle in order to make the right decision and Your will was done. Amen.
37. Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. 41. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 37 to 41)
Oh, Holy Spirit of God my Father You work in strange ways, you are aware of our potential and You have chosen each one of us to perform a particular tasks or task in life. Among the apostles as in the case of Abraham and Lot, it was time for Paul and Barnabas two great flames to separate. By means of a quarrel, You brought the separation so that both of them could continue spreading the Good News in different parts of the world.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God my Father blessed be Your Name and Your wonders. I thank You for the ways that You work in our lives, even though I do not always understand what You mean by certain decisions and situations that take place at the given time, however in time You always make me aware of Your intentions and I give a sigh of relief on becoming aware of the reality behind what I had considered as being something that I wanted or aimed for. Amen
2. And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 2)
Oh God my Father, how beautiful it is to treat our problems and issues in a spirit of dialogue instead of quarrels rebellions and confrontation that leads to divisions instead of unity. At times we may arrive at a point, that aiming for a win-lose situation may result in winning the argument but, however leaving a negative effect on the relationship. At times it would be wiser to aim for a win - win situation were all win to some degree and nobody loses, therefore a settlement is reached that favours both parties, especially if the issue is trivial and not a matter of life and death. On needs to decide which is of most value, the argument or the relationship and keep that in mind as a starting point. Amen.
3. So they were sent on their by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 3)
Oh God my Father, I had many jobs throughout my live and consider myself as an all-rounder. However, I view this not as being incapable of performing as required, but as being sent on a mission to speak about You to a particular person or persons. Although my external performance was not efficient to reach the desired goal, You gave me the skills to be efficient on a spiritual level and a lot of good was done. Today I am working in a call centre which I also believe that You sent me there to continue this mission of spreading the Good News. Amen. I pray oh God my Father, that You keep on using me in the spreading of Your Good News Amen.
4. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 4)
Oh God my Father what a nice feeling it would be for all if the priest and other Roman Catholics and Christians made us feel at home on going to Church especially on Sunday. If we all welcomed each other with a brotherly and sisterly big hug and were asked about our spiritual welfare more than our social welfare. How motivating it would be to find a new family that really cares waiting, for us. Only then the meaning of true fellowship and brotherhood and sisterhood would be experienced.
5. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses"
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 5)
Oh God my Father during our times and even those before us and even in the future there will always be many voices, that dictate this and that about You, however, all these voices, although they might have a good intention may be the actual truth. However, if we believe in You and also believe that You guide the Roman Catholic Church and even other churches by the power of the Holy Spirit in order to enlighten our ways. Even though I am a Roman Catholic oh God my Father I never block out any teachings of others, for it may well be that You may be speaking by means of others. Although I always keep in mind Your teachings I also keep in mind that at some point in time You could even speak to me by those who are against me or who have a different value and belief system. Therefore, while activating our filter, we are to be tolerant of others, for it would be a great loss if You happen to be talking to us and our hearts are hardened due to our bias against others and their belief systems and values.
6. The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. 7. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. 8. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; 9. and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. 10. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11. On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will|"
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 6 to 11)
Oh Holy Spirit of the Almighty God, I greatly thank You for enlightening the hearts and minds of Popes Bishops and even priests, and by speaking and leading us by means of their physical presence. Throughout the years as a consequence, there have been many encyclicals that all reflect Your presence, one of change and illumination, and not of stagnation. I pray that You keep on shedding light on the current issues that we are experiencing in 2016 so that we will keep on walking in Your ways Amen.
12. The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 12)
Oh God my Father, how nice it is for us to listen to each other as we share our experiences of Your intervention in our lives, in order for all to be built in spirit and in faith. Amen. Even though there was a hot issue at stake, all the parties involved listened to each other and those responsible compared the proclamation of Paul and Barnabas with all that was written in the books of the prophets in relation to the gentiles including us for we can also be classified as gentiles for we are not Hebrews. I thank You, God for giving us the opportunity to be included in Your Church Amen.
13. After they had finished speaking, James replied, "My brothers, listen to me. 14. Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. 15. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written, 16. 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up, 17. so that all other peoples may seek the Lord even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things 18. known from long ago.'
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 13 to 17)
Oh God being Your followers we base our life and all that we know about the message of the Good News, anything that is not according to Your Word needs to be considered before being accepted. Amen. The world teaches us many things and theories, however, we are to consider if the message agrees with the values and teaching of Your 'Good News' Amen.
19. Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, 20. but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood, 21. For in every city, for generations Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 19 to 21)
Oh God my Father, I thank You for not making us bear more than we can carry, especially if we are still in the beginning of our relationship with You. Amen.
22. Then the apostles and the elders with the consent of the whole church decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, 23. with the following letter; "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, 25. we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26. who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials; 29. that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 22 to 29)
Oh God my Father You gave us an example of how decisions are taken. During this meeting or council, a very important issue was treated. The core issue was that of whether we are to issue rules or ways of life, to new Catholics or Roman Catholics who have just converted to the faith with too many rules or be rigid in the execution of such rules. People who are still new to the faith are to be treated with special care for if not they may feel discouraged and go back to their old ways. Therefore care is to be taken on what we say to others about our faith, for we can easily lead others astray by what we say. As long as what we say reflects Your teachings may we all continue to spread the message fo the Good News Amen.
30. So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31. When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 30 to 31)
Oh God, my Father how sweet is the state of dialogue! In a spirit of dialogue, many issues can be dealt with and a trust -worthy conclusion that is good for all parties can be agreed on. Amen
32. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 32)
Oh God my Father, may we all be prophets in the sense of having a positive attitude that encourages and empathises with others instead of being negative and cynical. Amen.
33. After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. 35. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they proclaimed the word of the Lord.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 33 to 35)
Oh God my Father this is the life of the missionary, when one has fulfilled the purpose of one's mission, when the new-formed community of believers is strong enough to start making its first independent steps like a baby who has started walking it is time to move on to another group of believers who are still in an atheist stage of their religious life. However by no means are toddlers abandoned completely to themselves, for You appointed Bishops and other leaders among the same group of new believers to continue leading the group in Your name and thus the foundations of a new structure are in place Amen.
The same applies to our spiritual life. In the very beginning of our relationship with You, we need much mentoring, however, the more You permit us to grow, the more we can continue to advance and help others to do likewise Amen. I greatly thank you for never abandoning us. Amen.
36. After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verse 36)
Oh, God almighty how nice it is to take care of Your children. Since the time of our birth, You never stop caring for us. I feel very secure to have You as my Father knowing that You are there all the time as my primary means of support. Paul wished to evaluate the spiritual welfare of those communities or the new group of believers in order to see how they were doing. It is nice to evaluate our own spiritual welfare not only our physical and financial, however when the communities started growing and when there were more countries still awaiting the Good News this may have appeared to be not as practical as Paul may have had considered it to be. However as in all cases, Your Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle in order to make the right decision and Your will was done. Amen.
37. Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. 39. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. 41. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
(Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 verses 37 to 41)
Oh, Holy Spirit of God my Father You work in strange ways, you are aware of our potential and You have chosen each one of us to perform a particular tasks or task in life. Among the apostles as in the case of Abraham and Lot, it was time for Paul and Barnabas two great flames to separate. By means of a quarrel, You brought the separation so that both of them could continue spreading the Good News in different parts of the world.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:-
Oh God my Father blessed be Your Name and Your wonders. I thank You for the ways that You work in our lives, even though I do not always understand what You mean by certain decisions and situations that take place at the given time, however in time You always make me aware of Your intentions and I give a sigh of relief on becoming aware of the reality behind what I had considered as being something that I wanted or aimed for. Amen
