LET MY WORDS BE FEW

 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? Acts 15:10

In our contextual passage of Acts 15:5-11, we find Peter addressing a council who was brought together in order to discuss whether the Gentile believers in Jesus must become Jewish converts and follow Jewish law in order to be saved.  

Some of the ones wanting to require this are believers in Jesus who are still identifying themselves as Pharisees.  They insist these newly converted Gentiles must be circumcised and follow the Mosiac law, in order to be saved by Jesus. These Pharisees not only enforced the laws of Moses but also added to it.  This “yoke” was completely unbearable! Therefore, Paul and Barnabas sharply disagreed with the Pharisees and took this issue to the Apostles to settle.  

Since Peter was the first to witness the uncircumcised, unconverted to Judaism, Gentiles become followers of Jesus and subsequently be filled with the Holy Spirit, just as the Jews had (Acts 10:44), he was qualified to settle the division  by speaking his decision: Gentiles and Jews alike, are saved through grace, and not by works. 

Peter responded to them in this way: “God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.  He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15:8-9)

If the Gentiles were to follow the law of circumcision, it would be a sign that they are falling under the law of Moses and they would be rejecting salvation by grace and erroneously embracing a false salvation by following the law (Galatians 5:1–6). 

Jesus taught his followers, “they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people (Matthew 23:4-5a). In contrast, Jesus said, ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In our passage of study today, Peter points out that even the Jews can't keep the Law perfectly, so how could these Gentile converts? Peter reminds these leaders and Pharisees that Jews and Gentiles are saved only "through the grace of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 15:11).

Application Questions: 

1.   Has anyone ever tried to yoke you to the heavy burden of law-based salvation?

2.   In what ways do we see some believers today trying to make others follow their laws, in order to be saved? 

3.   What is the clear teaching of the Apostles regarding salvation?