Paul, Barnabas, and James witnessed of the Gentiles Salvation through Jesus Christ, not circumcision.

Acts 15:12-18

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“Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.” Acts 15:12

In the previous post, the Apostle Peter acknowledged the Salvation of the Gentiles by believing God and putting their faith in Jesus Christ. Peter acknowledged that the Gentiles were given the Holy Spirit and are an example to everyone on how to be saved. Then the multitude silenced themselves again to listen to Barnabas and Paul describe the many miracles and wonders that God brought among the Gentiles through them in the name of Jesus. Paul and Barnabas were eyewitnesses of how Salvation and the Holy Spirit came to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, not the written laws of Moses.

As Peter said once before, through the Holy Spirit, “...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

“And after they had become silent, James answered…” Acts 15:13a.

James was the Apostle and one of the four brothers of Jesus Christ [Matthew 13:55] and the writer of the book of James. After the multitude became silent again after listening to Paul and Barnabas, James spoke.

“...saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.” Acts 15:14 

Simon is the Apostle Peter, and in Acts 15:7-11 of the previous post, he spoke in agreement to the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, without circumcision. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are the non-Jewish Gentiles that God has accepted to make us part of His family, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

“And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’ “Known to God from eternity are all His works.” Acts 15:15-18

James is quoting Amos 9:11-12 to validate that the prophets of the Old Testament were speaking of Salvation of the Gentiles as the way to restore the family of God. This would come through faith in Jesus Christ, not by circumcision, nor through any other written law of Judaism. This is known as the “scarlet cord” of the Old Testament pointing to Jesus as the Christ and Son of God.

What is the rebuilding of the Tabernacle of David? This symbolizes the restoration of the family of God by the inclusion of the Gentiles into the family of God. How is the restoration of the tabernacle completed? By making our body the tabernacle of the Lord and Jesus being the Priest, “…Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands…” Hebrews 9:11 We are the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit [a building not made with hands] by the remission of sin through Jesus Christ.  “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you…” 1 Corinthians 6:19

When Jesus Christ came to this earth, the Jewish culture was in spiritual ruins, and about all that was left of their population was what could be counted within the territory of the Roman Empire. Jerusalem was the heart of the Jewish culture. The spiritual corruption and ruin of the Jewish leadership, those who guided the Jewish people, is described in Matthew 23. Jesus said, “See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you will see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:38-39

The house of the Lord is rebuilt by allowing all of humanity to seek the Lord, the whosoever, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 God has even made it so that the non-Jewish Gentiles, you and me, could be part of His family, “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed… And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:29

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11