1. The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 15 – Addressing Problems
This is the fifth class on Acts 15.
Sunday – January 21, 2018
Many of the slides used in this presentation are prepared by Joe Price and are used and adapted with his permission.

2. Acts 15: Topical Summary Dissention and dispute (verses 1-2)
The meeting at Jerusalem (verses 4-6)
Addressing a doctrinal problem (verses 7- 35)
Addressing a personal judgement problem (verses 36-40)
The second preaching journey begins (verse 41)

4. Worksheet On Acts Chapter 15
SUMMARIZE: 15:1-5 15:6 15: :12 15: : : :36-41
15:1-5 – Judaizing teachers come from Jerusalem to Antioch and are opposed by Paul and Barnabas who are then sent by the church in Antioch to the church in Jerusalem.
15:6 – The apostles and the elders of the Jerusalem church discuss the problem; apparently within the assembly.
15:7-11 – Peter speaks to the assembly, showing them that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).
15:12 – Paul and Barnabas recount their efforts at preaching the gospel to the Gentiles; the “signs and wonders” necessarily infer the approval of God.
15:13-21 – James (re: Acts 12:17), probably the brother of Jesus, shows through the Scriptures that the Gentiles are welcome (Amos 9:11-12).
15:22-29 – The apostles, elders, and the whole church select messengers (Judas and Silas) and send Antioch a letter.
15:30-35 – The messengers deliver the letter to the Antioch church and continue there to exhort the brethren; many others remain preaching the gospel.
15:36-41 – Paul and Barnabas determine to visit the churches established during the first preaching trip; they cannot agree regarding John Mark, so Barnabas and John go to Cyprus while Paul and Silas take the land route to the NW.

5. Worksheet On Acts Chapter 15
PEOPLE: Paul and Barnabas: Pharisees: James: Judas and Silas: John Mark: Silas:
Paul and Barnabas – Preachers of the gospel (both called “apostles” – Acts 14:4, 14), disputed with the Judaizing teachers, recounted their preaching journey to the church in Jerusalem.
Pharisees – Brethren in the church in Jerusalem that still held to the Law of Moses (verse 5).
James – Probably the brother of Jesus, backed-up Peter in his discussion with the church in Jerusalem, then added the scriptural authority for the acceptance of the Gentiles (Amos 9:11-12).
Judas and Silas – Prophets from the church in Jerusalem, sent along with Paul and Barnabas to deliver the letter from Jerusalem. Exhorted the brethren in Antioch.
John Mark – The cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10), left the apostles at the beginning of the first preaching journey. Barnabas and he go to Cyprus by themselves.
Silas – A chief man at the church in Jerusalem, also a prophet, messenger of the church in Jerusalem (along with Judas Barsabbas – verse 22), went with Paul on the second preaching trip.

6. Worksheet On Acts Chapter 15
PLACES: Jerusalem: Phoenicia and Samaria: Antioch: Pamphylia: Cyprus: Syria and Cilicia:
Jerusalem – False teachers went out from there to Antioch of Syria saying that one must first become a Jew in order to become a Christian. The church there met with messengers from Antioch to clear up the problem.
Phoenicia and Samaria – Roman provinces along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, north and west of Israel. The messengers from Antioch traveled through here on their trip to Jerusalem, “declaring the conversion of the Gentiles” (verse 3).
Antioch – Of Syria; false teachers from Jerusalem went there with their “Judaizing” doctrine. The church there discussed the issue and sent messengers to Jerusalem to clarify the matter. They rejoiced when the response from Jerusalem was read.
Pamphylia – A Roman province just north of Cyprus. John Mark returned to Jerusalem from here, leaving Barnabas and Paul to continue the first preaching trip by themselves.
Cyprus – An island in the eastern Mediterranean where the first preaching trip was begun. Barnabas and John Mark returned here to preach the gospel after splitting from Paul.
Syria and Cilicia – Roman provinces along the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The letter from Jerusalem was addressed to the churches there. Paul and Silas commenced the second preaching trip by going through these provinces, “confirming the churches” (verse 41).