Act 15:32-33 | KingComments | STEP | The church lets the envoy go, which indicates that they support their mission. When the four of them arrive in Antioch, the congregation is gathered. Then the brothers who have come from Jerusalem hand over the letter. The letter brings joy because they are acquitted of the yoke of the law. The prescription to abstain from some necessary things is also part of that joy. Jerusalem guarantees freedom for the Gentiles, although they themselves stick to the law. This is the right mind to deal with each other as churches when it comes to regulations and statutes that some people think they have to keep. In addition to the encouragement that the letter has brought to the believers, there is also an opportunity for Judas and Silas to verbally encourage and strengthen the believers. As prophets they are able to speak totally different words than their predecessors who have been here without a commission and have spoken words that have unsettled souls ( ). The lengthy message or many words spoken by Judas and Silas serve to strengthen the faith. It is beautiful to speak to one another in this way and also to be built up in faith by those who have received the gift of the Lord to do so. When Judas and Silas have performed their comforting and strengthening service in this way for some time, they return to those who sent them, i.e. the church in Jerusalem. The brethren let them go in peace. There is peace and harmony in the church. When Judas and Silas leave, they leave behind a church with whom they are in unity. The report that they will have made later in Jerusalem of their stay and service in Antioch, will certainly have caused joy there as well. Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch. Together with many others they teach and proclaim the Word of the Lord. This indicates that there is a large church in Antioch and that there is a large number of gifts. The goal is the same for all. It is about the building up of the believers and that is only possible through the Word of the Lord. Here again it is not the ‘Word of God’, but the ‘Word of the Lord’. The purpose of the service is that the life of the believer in all its aspects comes under the authority of the Lord.

‏ Acts 15:32-33

Delivering the Letter in Antioch

The church lets the envoy go, which indicates that they support their mission. When the four of them arrive in Antioch, the congregation is gathered. Then the brothers who have come from Jerusalem hand over the letter. The letter brings joy because they are acquitted of the yoke of the law. The prescription to abstain from some necessary things is also part of that joy. Jerusalem guarantees freedom for the Gentiles, although they themselves stick to the law. This is the right mind to deal with each other as churches when it comes to regulations and statutes that some people think they have to keep.

In addition to the encouragement that the letter has brought to the believers, there is also an opportunity for Judas and Silas to verbally encourage and strengthen the believers. As prophets they are able to speak totally different words than their predecessors who have been here without a commission and have spoken words that have unsettled souls (Acts 15:24). The lengthy message or many words spoken by Judas and Silas serve to strengthen the faith. It is beautiful to speak to one another in this way and also to be built up in faith by those who have received the gift of the Lord to do so.

When Judas and Silas have performed their comforting and strengthening service in this way for some time, they return to those who sent them, i.e. the church in Jerusalem. The brethren let them go in peace. There is peace and harmony in the church. When Judas and Silas leave, they leave behind a church with whom they are in unity. The report that they will have made later in Jerusalem of their stay and service in Antioch, will certainly have caused joy there as well.

Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch. Together with many others they teach and proclaim the Word of the Lord. This indicates that there is a large church in Antioch and that there is a large number of gifts. The goal is the same for all. It is about the building up of the believers and that is only possible through the Word of the Lord. Here again it is not the ‘Word of God’, but the ‘Word of the Lord’. The purpose of the service is that the life of the believer in all its aspects comes under the authority of the Lord.