And I went up by revelation.
I went up by revelation
I. A fact.
1. Paul was not summoned by the apostles, who, by taking no action, must virtually have endorsed his conduct.
2. Paul was sent by the Spirit of God.
(1) He was no stranger to these revelations (Ephesians 3:3).
(2) He had them at every crisis in his career--through inner promptings and prohibitions (Acts 16:6-7); through dreams and visions (Acts 16:9-10; Acts 18:9; Acts 22:18-21; Acts 27:23); and through inspired men (Acts 13:2; Acts 21:11).
3. Paul was sent to strengthen his inspired mission by securing a co-operation of the apostles.
II. The explanation of a seeming discrepancy. Acts 15:2 describes Paul as sent by the Church. But revelation may have--
1. Governed the action of the Church.
2. Confirmed the desire of the Church.
3. Occurred concurrently to the mind of Paul and the Church. Paul was dismissed from Jerusalem (Acts 9:35) by his anxious brethren; but not without urgent directions from Christ (Acts 22:17; Acts 22:21). The historian looks at these events from the outside, the autobiographer from within.
Learn:
1. Not to follow the wisest counsels until Christ has spoken (Proverbs 3:6). The course will thus be
(1) clear;
(2) safe;
(3) successful.
2. When Christ has spoken obey
(1) promptly;
(2) courageously;
(3) with the best powers of the mind. Paul’s consummate tact here to be noted.
3. Leave the responsibility with the great Commissioner.
4. Look for His approbation and reward.
The private conference
I. Its members.
1. Paul.
2. Those of reputation; i.e., the supreme court of appeal in the opinion of his adversaries. In disputes appeal to the fountain-head, otherwise time and effort are wasted.
II. Its business. To discuss Paul’s gospel.
1. Paul professed to receive it by revelation from Christ.
2. The apostles received it from Christ’s tips.
3. Both were found to be in harmony. We have scriptural warrant for frank explanations in religious matters.
III. Its purpose. “Lest I should run.” Paul wanted the hearty sympathy of his brethren, and--
1. Adopted measures calculated to secure it.
(1) Paid them proper deference,
(2) but relied on the merits of his cause.
2. Because if he gained the leaders he would secure the following.
3. Because a schism between the Jewish and Gentile Churches was imminent, and the cause of Catholicity in danger.
Learn:
1. The value of conciliatory measures.
2. The importance of tact even in religion.
The conciliatory character of St. Paul
You have heard the fable of the Traveller, the Wind, and the Sun. The Traveller was enveloped in a thick cloud. The Wind and Sun contended which could most easily induce him to lay the cloak aside. The Wind made the attempt first; but the Traveller drew his cloak more closely to him. The Sun’s turn came, and as the warmth of his rays increased, the Traveller gradually relaxed his hold. Each step made him feel that the cloak was more and more a burden; he laid it aside. The Sun had succeeded where the Wind had failed. What can never be done by violent attack may often be easily accomplished by gentle persuasion. (Dean Howson.)
Paul’s tact and tolerance
Such men as St. Paul, who have seen much of the world, and made human nature and character their careful study, and who know how much is due to education, association, habit, are inevitably tolerant and invariably indifferent to mere varieties of feeling and peculiarities of manner. When men of St. Paul’s intelligence are animated by a desire to do good, they easily accommodate themselves to idiosyncrasies of race and disposition. In a word they possess tact, and an earnest, conscientious, self-denying, active, generous nature, which is also gifted with discretion, and wields an irresistible influence. And, on the other hand, they who live in a little world of their own, be they apostles or ordinary men, contract a narrow and exclusive temper, set great store by trifles, are conservative and tenacious on minor points, insist on literal obedience, are passionately fond of conformity, are jealous for the letter, are slow to understand the spirit. (Paul of Tarsus.)
A noble example
I made it a rule that I would not let a day pass without speaking to some one about their soul’s salvation; and if they do not hear the gospel from the lips of others, there will be three hundred and sixty-five in a year who shall hear the gospel from my lips. There are five thousand Christians here to-night; cannot they say, “We will not let a day pass without speaking a word to some one about salvation.” (D. L. Moody.)
Private effort neglected
The well-known Rev. Alex. R. C. Dallas was an officer in Wellington’s Peninsular wars before he became a clergyman, and at Cadiz, in Spain, he used to be much in the company of another officer named Cumming, who was always considered steady. Their meeting again in their old age was thus described by Mr. Dallas: “Many years after it had pleased God to enlighten my mind, and to impart to me the knowledge of His salvation in Christ Jesus, I was walking in the Strand, and met Cumming near Temple Bar. He was aged and limped, having suffered from a paralytic stroke; but we knew each other immediately. I gave him my arm, and walked back with him nearly to Charing Cross. My great anxiety was to speak to him of Christ. We began to speak about old times, and especially our eventful march in Spain together. At length I came to the great subject that was upon my heart; he listened to me attentively, and at last he said, ‘My dear Dallas, I knew all that long before I knew you, and many times I prayed God to convert you when you were in the world. I often put Spanish tracts under your pillow: I looked at him,” Dallas continues, “with great surprise, and I told him that I did not know whether to be grateful to him for his prayers or angry with him for his silence to myself. Why did he not tell me of Christ’s salvation, if he knew it so well? What a lesson is this for those who shrink from confessing Christ before the worldly!”
An important mission
I. The communication of the gospel was made with great faithfulness. From the account given in the Acts it is evident that an assembly of the whole Church was called together, and that the question submitted to them was, whether the keeping of the law was necessary to justification or no. Paul’s testimony was unequivocal.
II. This communication was made with signal prudence. Previous to, or independent of, Paul’s teaching before the whole assembly, he sought out the most prominent members of the Church, and carefully made known to them what God had done by him. In this Paul displayed great wisdom.
III. In this communication Paul was most anxious that the gospel should triumph. It was not of himself he was thinking when he spoke of “running in vain.” Lessons:
1. Members of Churches should endeavour to promote the unity of the whole body.
2. Much may be done in the interests of peace without any sacrifice of principle. Paul declared the gospel faithfully; and yet he disarmed the opposition of many of his antagonists. (R. Nicholls.)
How to succeed in questions of great delicacy and importance
I. Seek Divine direction.
II. Proceed cautiously.
III. Secure by private appeal the influence of the wise and good. (J. Lyth.)