THE MAIN IDEA
If we are to be zealous for the gospel, we need to be zealous for peace. Luke gives us three profiles of people who are zealous for the gospel; we see ...

THE WARMTH OF THE BELIEVERS
We are expecting the worst for Paul when he arrives in Jerusalem. Instead, Paul and his companions were received “warmly,” even though there were negative rumors circulating about him. Of course, not everyone acted in this way. For the church in Jerusalem, what set them apart is simply that they were obedient to the word of God, especially the 59 “one another” commands. The Bible teaches us repeatedly that relationships are the most important thing in the kingdom of God. Christians are to make every effort to promote peace by treating one another and others with respect, dignity, love, not gossiping and slandering. And what an amazing and powerful witness that is to a cold, hard, and uncaring world that is prone to gossip, judgmentalism, and controversies.

THE WISDOM OF THE ELDERS
The wisdom of the elders is demonstrated in the context of the rumor that was circulating about Paul. First, they didn’t just accept the rumor about Paul at face value. They understood that rumors are basically false witnesses. Second, the elders demonstrated a lot of wisdom by listening to what Paul had to say, instead of just rushing into the accusations that were being brought against him. Third, they praised God that many Gentiles were saved through Paul’s ministry. They cared about the same things that God cares about. And what could be wiser than that? Finally, they offered a solution to quench the rumor about Paul. The elders made every effort to do what leads to peace (Romans 14:19), not just for the sake of their relationship with Paul, but also for the sake of the relationship between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. They had worked so hard to build a foundation of fellowship between all believers, but now the conflicts between Jews and Gentiles was threatening either the witness to the Jews or the witness to the Gentiles, and maybe both. Promoting peace promotes Christian fellowship and Christian witness. And Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

THE HUMILITY OF PAUL
Paul had pedigree. He was raised in a wealthy and prestigious family, he was a Roman citizen, he received the best education possible in his day. Paul also had a zealous temperament, not a timid one. Furthermore, Paul was not one to be impressed in any way by the status of important people. So when James and the elders asked Paul to publicly fulfill his vows with four others and to pay for their purification rites and sacrifices so that the rumor mongers could see that Paul was in fact a devout Jew, Paul didn’t say a word. Rather, Paul simply submitted to the word of God by submitting to the elders. Paul knew what was at stake too. What defines Paul’s character the most is what he wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor 9:22b) – I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. What makes Paul humble is that he knew all about the advantages that he had, and yet what always drove him was the salvation of the lost. And that is the kind of humility that God wants us to have too—if that matters to us at all. (Hint: It should).

DISCUSSION QUESTION
As believers, we know (we are confident) that we have the unlimited grace of God at our disposal because of faith and faith alone. And yet, God does desire that we pursue holiness. Which of the three profiles presented do you need to work on the most, and why do you think so?