ACTS: The Church In Action
resolving conflict
Chapter Fifteen

INTRODUCTION: Acts tells a joyful story, one that illustrates the trials and triumphs of the power of the Gospel.  We have seen the church grow and touch entire cities, but too, Acts is honest about the costliness of spreading the Gospel.  Everywhere Paul and Barnabas traveled there was revival or riot.  Now in the fifteenth chapter we encounter the clear emergence of legalism in the Church and how our church father dealt with it.


The division (15:1-5)
  1. The first division within the church was racial and ritual. 
  2. The first division within the church was propagated by sincere people.
  3. The first division within the church had a great deal of scriptural support.
  4. The first division within the church seemed to be backed by Jerusalem, the mother church.
The debate (15:6-18)
  1. Past revelation proves salvation is by grace (15:7)
  2. The gift of the Holy Spirit proves salvation is by grace (15:8-9)
  3. Their heart cleansed and transformed proves salvation is by grace (15:9)
  4. The inability of the law to save proves salvation is by grace (15:10-11)
  5. The outpouring of miracles proves salvation is by grace (15:12; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb 2:3,4)
  6. Prophetic promises proves salvation is by grace (15:13-18; Amos 9:11-12)

There are always two kinds of speakers: those who have something to say, and those who have to say something

The decision (15:19-29)
  1. Two things decided about the moral realm.
    1. Idolatry (II Cor. 6:16)
    2. Immorality (I Cor. 6:17-20)
  2. Two things decided in the Christian realm of love
    1. Dietary
    2. Laws 
The Delegation
  1. Celebration
  2. Comfort
  3. Confirmation
  4. Continuation