Acts Chapter 15 (part 2)

"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."

May you be covered in His dust.

If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!

You can access previous notes on Acts and Luke HERE.

Good morning Saints! ☀️

Man, I wanted to get this out yesterday, but my wife came down with a migraine, and it was me against the five little ones for most of the day. Haha.

Onward.

Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve seen so far in Chapter 15. 

Men came to Antioch from Judea, claiming that Gentiles couldn’t be saved unless they were circumcised. This sparked a heated debate with Paul and Barnabas. To settle the matter, they went to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders.

In Jerusalem, the discussion continued. Some Pharisee believers insisted that Gentiles needed to follow the law of Moses (the first five books of the Old Testament.) After a lot of back and forth, Peter spoke up. He reminded everyone that God had chosen him to share the gospel with the Gentiles and that God gave them the Holy Spirit, just like He did for the Jews—making no distinction.

Peter didn’t mince words: “Why are we putting a burden on them that even we couldn’t bear? We’re all saved by the grace of Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile.”

Let’s slow down and unpack what’s happening here.

The Pharisees’ struggle was understandable. They believed Jesus was the promised Messiah, but their entire lives had been wrapped up in strict obedience to the law of Moses.

The law wasn’t just a list of rules to follow—it was their way of life. It marked their covenant with God and shaped their identity as His people. For the Pharisees, it defined what it meant to be righteous and how they understood their relationship with God.

They were being told that salvation wasn’t through the law but through grace in Jesus. That didn’t just challenge their theology—it shook their entire sense of who they were. Imagine rethinking everything that’s defined your faith for generations. Even today, for many Jewish people, the law remains central to their identity and their devotion to God.

The Pharisees were super strict about following rules and traditions. They wanted to make sure they upheld God’s law; however, in their effort to be thorough, they often went overboard by adding extra rules and missed the deeper purpose of God’s commands.

Take the Sabbath, for example. It’s a key commandment in Jewish tradition, rooted in the Ten Commandments and the creation story, where God rested on the seventh day. The Talmud gives detailed guidance on how to observe it.

In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, laying out how they were to live in relationship with Him and one another. The fourth commandment specifically addresses the Sabbath, a day set apart for rest and worship. Here’s what it says in Exodus 20:8–11:

The Sabbath is called a "holy day" and a covenant between God and the Jewish people (Exodus 31:13-17). The Talmud explains it as a day of rest and spiritual focus, mirroring God’s rest after creation.

The Talmud also lists 39 types of work that are forbidden on the Sabbath. Here are all 39.

Planting, plowing, reaping, gathering, threshing, winnowing, sorting, grinding, sifting, kneading, and baking;

Shearing, washing, combing, dyeing, spinning, warping, weaving, separating, tying, untying, sewing, and tearing;

Trapping, slaughtering, skinning, curing, smoothing, cutting, writing, and erasing;

Building, demolishing, kindling, extinguishing, finishing, and carrying.

Basically, no work of any kind.

In the Bible, the Sabbath meant rest, worship, and trusting God by refraining from work. But, Jewish scholars took it to another level, adding detailed interpretations and rules to define what "work" included.

Over time, this turned a simple command into a complex system of regulation that are still followed by observant Jews today.

This is how those 39 categories have evolved and are interpreted today.

Tearing Toilet Paper: Since "tearing" is prohibited, tearing toilet paper on the Sabbath is not allowed. Observant Jews often prepare pre-torn toilet paper or use alternatives.

Smoothing Peanut Butter: Spreading peanut butter or frosting in a smooth, even layer is considered "smoothing," which falls under the prohibition of "putting the finishing touch on a product."

Separating Food Items: Picking out unwanted food from a mixture (like removing the onions from a salad) is prohibited, as it’s categorized under "sorting." Instead, one must remove what they want to eat.

Opening an Umbrella: Opening an umbrella is considered akin to "building" because it creates a structure that provides shelter.

Jesus challenged these strict rules. He healed people on the Sabbath and defended His disciples for picking grain to eat, saying, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

As I studied the interpretations in the Talmud of how to follow the 4th Commandment, I found myself in judgment. “They’ve totally lost the heart and purpose of the Sabbath. No wonder Jesus challenged them so often.”

When I notice myself judging someone in the Bible or in real life, I use the opportunity as a mirror. I use it to ask hard questions:

• “Do I believe in Jesus alone?”

Or in Jesus + being a missionary?
Or Jesus + financial giving?
Or Jesus + church attendance?

• “Have I lost the heart and purpose of what God is calling me to do?”

• “Am I burdening myself or anyone else with expectations that God never intended?”

• “Have I missed the heart of what God is teaching me because I’m too focused on being right?”

Judgment often reveals something about my own heart that God wants to change. It’s a humble reminder to look at myself before pointing fingers.

The silence feels like a collective pause. After probably hours of arguing, the undeniable testimony of God’s work left them speechless, humbled maybe, or even reflecting on their own positions.

God’s work spoke louder than their arguments.

It’s significant that James is speaking because he was a key leader in the early Jerusalem church.

I’ve heard this before, but as I read through Acts this time, it’s obvious.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, didn’t believe his brother Jesus was the Messiah at first (John 7:5). But when Jesus appeared to him after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7), everything changed. James came to faith and became a central figure in the leadership of the Jerusalem church.

Why does James call Peter Simeon (Simon)?

Originally, he was Simon, son of Jonah. In John 1:42, Jesus said to him, "You are Simon, the son of John. You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).

"Simeon" is the Hebrew form of Peter’s name (Shimon). James used this form to highlight Peter’s Jewish identity, which was significant in the discussion about Gentiles joining the church. It connects Peter to the Jewish people and their Scriptures.

There’s a lot to unpack here. Let’s take it slow.

Paul has spoken.
Peter has spoken.
The Pharisees have spoken.

And now, through the scriptures, God has spoken.

God is pledging to rebuild and restore David’s house—symbolizing the kingdom, leadership, and the fulfillment of His covenant with David. This promise points to the coming of a Messiah, a descendant of David, who would reign eternally.

This passage comes from the Old Testament, where God makes a powerful promise to King David about his descendants and the future of his kingdom.

Do you see Jesus in that?

Those words were written 1,000 years before the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15—a thousand years before Jesus!

James is quoting Amos 9:11-12 from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, known as the Septuagint. This version uses "Gentiles" instead of "nations," reflecting a slightly different phrasing.

While "nations" can mean the same thing, "Gentiles" makes it crystal clear in the context of the Council’s debate about whether Gentile believers needed to follow the Law of Moses.

God’s Word isn’t saying, “Gentiles must become Jews to become Christians.” It’s saying, “Gentiles are His people too.”

By quoting the Prophet Amos, James shows that God’s work among the Gentiles wasn’t a surprise—it was prophesied 800 years earlier. By using "Gentiles," he ties the prophetic promise to what’s happening right in front of them: Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus.

“The Gentiles are turning to Jesus. Leave them alone.”

I think it’s incredible that with big names like Peter, Paul, and Barnabas in the room, it’s James who makes the final judgment—the judge, if you will. He listened to all the evidence and gave his decision.

This shows just how respected he was as a leader in the Jerusalem church.

Final thought

We are saved by faith and grace alone.

Not by baptism.
Not by good works.
Not by circumcision.
Not by religious rituals.
Not by keeping of the law.
Not by church attendance.

As the Apostle Paul reminds us:

I’ll do my best to finish Chapter 15 next week, but I won’t rush. We’re here to soak in His Word—maybe for the first time ever for some of us.

One Minute Inspiration

I love you,

George
Uncovering Scripture

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George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.

He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 26 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.

In 2024, George and his wife expanded to Cuba, joining forces with nine pastors committed to transforming lives through the gospel.

You can get George’s bestselling book, Do You Love Me? Giving up the American Dream to Serve the Underprivileged, on Amazon.