How does Acts 15:2 connect with Matthew 18:15-17 on conflict resolution? Setting the Stage • Acts 15 opens with a sharp dispute in Antioch: “Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ ” • Paul and Barnabas “had engaged them in serious debate” (Acts 15:2). • The issue threatens unity and the gospel itself—so how should believers handle it? Matthew’s Blueprint for Peacemaking Jesus lays out a three-step process: 1. “If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately” (Matthew 18:15). 2. “If he will not listen, take one or two others along” (Matthew 18:16). 3. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:17). The goal each time is restoration, not humiliation. Acts: A Live Demonstration 1. Private engagement (Antioch) • Paul and Barnabas debate the Judaizers directly—step 1 in action. 2. Small-group involvement • The dispute widens; respected leaders join the conversation—mirrors step 2. 3. Church-wide appeal • “It was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question” (Acts 15:2). • Jerusalem represents the larger body, fulfilling Jesus’ step 3. Point-by-Point Connection • Responsibility to Act – Both passages assume believers must address error; silence is not faithfulness (cf. Galatians 2:11-14). • Gradual Escalation – Matthew presents a rising scale; Acts shows that same scale lived out—from local debate to apostolic council. • Role of Witnesses – Matthew cites Deuteronomy 19:15; Acts sends “some of the others” as corroborating voices. • Submission to Church Authority – Matthew ends with church judgment; Acts demonstrates submission to the apostles and elders (cf. Hebrews 13:17). • Aim of Unity in Truth – Both passages guard doctrine and relationships (Ephesians 4:3-5; 2 Timothy 2:24-25). Practical Takeaways for Today • Start small, speak directly, and keep the circle as tight as possible before widening it. • Involve mature believers only when needed, seeking clarity, not cliques. • Be willing to submit corporate issues to recognized church leadership. • Maintain a restoration mindset throughout (Galatians 6:1). Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 15:1—tone matters. • James 1:19—quick to hear, slow to speak. • 1 Corinthians 1:10—unity in mind and judgment. |
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