Dealing with Theological Aberrations - Pt. 3: The Trip to Jerusalem

Baptist Daily Devotional
Aug 18
2 min read

Rev Osei Kwabena Nkrahene | August 18 2025 | Acts 15:1-5

KEY VERSE: “So, being sent on their way by the Church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.” Acts 15:3 (ESV)

MESSAGE:

There is a saying in my mother tongue: “Asɛm baako mfa nnipa nante”—translated as we take advantage of a situation to do other things. That is precisely what happened on Paul and Barnabas’ trip from Antioch to Jerusalem. While travelling to address a theological dispute, they used the journey as a chance to strengthen believers in Phoenicia and Samaria by sharing detailed reports of Gentiles coming to faith. The result was great joy among the churches.

Phoenicia itself is mentioned three times in Acts (11:19; 15:3; 21:2–3). This reminds us that God had been steadily at work in the region. From Acts 11:19-26, we learn that believers scattered by persecution carried the gospel there, and Antioch soon emerged as a key centre of Christian witness. Here, Greeks were reached with the gospel for the first time, and the message shifted from presenting Jesus solely as the Messiah to declaring Him as the Lord Jesus—language that spoke to those without a Jewish background. It was also in Antioch that believers were first called “Christians.”

From this same Antioch church, Paul and Barnabas were commissioned for their missionary journeys (Acts 13:1–3). And in Acts 11:28, it was at Antioch that a prophet delivered a prophecy of worldwide significance from Jerusalem. Slowly but surely, the centre of gravity was shifting. God’s mission was no longer flowing from Jerusalem alone—Antioch had become a hub for His advancing kingdom.

The “great joy” experienced by the churches in Phoenicia and Samaria was not just emotion. It was the fruit of seeing God’s unstoppable work among the nations. Testimonies fueled encouragement, and encouragement fueled momentum.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Do we give enough room today for testimonies and faithful reporting of God’s work?Are our churches structured to not only send workers but also to celebrate and strengthen one another through regular updates and follow-up?

PRAYER:

Lord, help us to learn from the timeless example of the early church. May we value testimonies, prioritise follow-up, and embrace every opportunity to spread joy by reporting Your mighty works. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 230: 2 Chronicles 9–12 — Queen of Sheba and Division of the Kingdom

DAILY word study: JOY The word “joy” in Acts 15:3 is from the Greek chara, meaning gladness, delight, or deep cheerfulness. This joy is not just happiness but a Spirit-given response to God’s work. When the believers in Phoenicia and Samaria heard of the Gentiles turning to God, their chara was proof that the gospel builds unity and encouragement across cultures. True joy comes when we celebrate what God is doing in others, not only in ourselves (see Philippians 1:4–5).

Reflect on This:

Where do you find your joy — in personal gain, or in the growth of God’s kingdom through others?