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.”  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 15:1-2

 The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the brothers and sisters commending him to the grace of the Lord. – Acts 15:39-40

This chapter of the Acts of the Apostles is bookended by dissent and division. Whilst some people site Acts 2:43-47 as a representative picture of the earliest Christian community living peaceably and sharing everything, with lots of peace and love vibes, what we find only a few chapters down the line is what we all probably know for ourselves from experience.

Working with others can be difficult!

The message of forgiveness through Christ is being shared and even Gentiles (or non-Jewish people) were coming to believe in Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are healings going on all over the place and, basically, God is really busy with these first apostles.

But, there is always something lurking around the corner that can cause conflict among even the closest communities.

The biggest issue that faced the early Christians was how to navigate this dichotomy between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. Much of Paul’s writings address these things, but here we see the conversations that might have been happening on the ground.

Do you need to be circumcised to be saved?

According to the law of Moses, yes. But what should a first century Christian do?

According to verse 2, there was ‘no small dissension and debate’ about it – fair to say, we can read that as being ironic, an understatement with a little raise of the eyebrows or wink following it! This was a big deal.

So big of a deal, in fact, that a council at Jerusalem was required to handle the matter.

Now, in fairness to them, the council seem to handle this one quite clearly and effectively. Writing this in the midst of Election fever in the UK, the demonstration of competent leadership makes me wonder if our current generation of political parties could have done with sitting in the gallery for this council and learning a thing or two!

Explanation – Decision – Application – Communication.

That is a solid way of working

Compelled by the movement of the Holy Spirit among Gentiles as a testimony of God on behalf of the Gentiles, the council make what feels like a very understanding ruling.

‘We should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God…’

And it clearly this issue is one that had been troubling believers. Verse 24 says:

‘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…’

Other believers, who it seems are no longer part of the group in Jerusalem (perhaps having been rejected or excommunicated even), had been teaching these Gentile believers.

Imagine being a teacher (not too hard for some of you…) and going away for a day or two, and then coming back to find out that the substitute teacher had been teaching the students things which you both disagreed with and which served to undermine your own teachings.

The existence of this splinter group suggests that there has already been division in the early Church, and now that is spreading!

As mentioned, the council seems to handle it well and those who hear the decision ‘rejoiced’. A group of adult men being told that they didn’t have to be circumcised… no wonder they were rejoicing!

The narrative of Acts 15 seems fairly straightforward so far – problem, discussion, resolution. All good, no?

The chunk of this chapter from verse 36 onwards seems like it could or should be the start of a new chapter. Yet, it’s inclusion brings attention to that theme of conflict and disagreement again. Even in the context of theological disputes being settled, personal disputes had an impact.

Paul and Barnabas, this fantastic duo who have ‘risked their lives for the sake of our Lord’(v.25), split up and go their own ways. Whilst Acts 15:2 is a little discreet about the disagreement, here we see that ‘the disagreement became so sharp that they parted company’.

Sadly, a very familiar tale across all of Church history is that of a disagreement so sharp that people have to part company.

It just goes to show that even in the lives of these early Christians, these Apostles who we so often revere, there is strife and challenge.

They share a commitment to Jesus and to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, but inevitably fall prey to a host of difficult disputes and upsets.

Maybe, by way of response, we should pray for the healing of division within the church. Even as I type that out, it feels like it’s a big thing to ask!

It’s not clear from the Acts narrative whether these divisions and disagreements are just part of God’s plans or whether God turns them to good. All we see is that, as we continue the journey of Acts, God is still at work despite these things.

That feels like a more reasonable prayer:

God, please be at work despite our difficulties with others and our disagreements.