Acts 15:36 And some days after Paul said to Barnabas… I. THE WORK RESUMED. 1. Working together. The Council at Jerusalem had been an interruption, but was more profitable to the Church than if the apostles had kept on with their work. For the settling of great principles, at times even a revival may well stop. And the principle which they went to settle was one that strengthened the nerve of revival effort among the Gentiles. 2. Working apart. (1) The cause of the separation, from which we learn that a quarrel can arise — (a) Over a very good cause. (b) Between very good men. (c) Between very good friends. (2) The results of separation. A division of the field of labour. By this the whole field was more quickly revisited, and Mark made into a good worker for Christ. II. THE WORK PROSPERED. 1. The workers increased (Acts 16:1). 2. The Churches increased. The Churches were strengthened by the visit, and so "increased in number daily." Each day was a birthday of souls. There were no blank days in their books of record. III. THE WORK ENLARGED. 1. Guided by the Spirit. Twice the Spirit did not allow the missionaries to preach the Word where they were inclined to proclaim it. He suffered them to work in Galatia and Phrygia. In the latter region they gathered some disciples (Acts 18:23), and in the former there grew up some Churches as the fruit of their labours (Galatians 1:2). But they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to speak the word in Asia, and when they essayed to go into Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not. 2. Called by the Spirit. "Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Now they understood why they had not been permitted to preach in Asia, or to go into Bithynia. God had closed those doors that He might open to them a wider one. The call of the heathen today for the gospel is a call of the Spirit. (M. C. Hazard.) Parallel Verses KJV: And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. |
    |