Christ's command to his followers before his ascension to heaven was for them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.

Our Lord did not intend for the good news of his death and resurrection to stay local, but

instead it was to be taken globally.

In this third section of Acts, the adventure continues as the gospel is taken to the ends

of the earth.

Let's join Scott Pauli now for today's study.

Life is full of struggles, and frankly, some of them are little skirmishes, some of them are all

out battles. You'd like to think at some point you wouldn't have any of that to deal with,

but it's part of life. There is conflict in life. And yet I've discovered that very often the

most difficult conflict is personal conflict. Some people, I guess, thrive on it, but most of us

just despise the thought of being at odds with somebody and having some fallout.

It's just, it's not what is good for anybody.

And yet, it's a reality even among the Lord's people.

When you come to the closing verses of Acts chapter 15, you come to a personal conflict

between two friends and fellow laborers

known as Paul and Barnabas. Now remember, they've just resolved a massive question and

conflict in the church as a whole related to the circumcision of the Gentiles. And everybody's

rejoicing and everybody's happy. In fact, we read in verse number 31 that there was rejoicing over the consolation.

The Bible says in verse 33, and after they had tarried their space,

they were let go in peace from the brethren under the apostles.

So there's joy, there's peace.

Remember this, wherever there's joy and peace, there's always a temptation to disruption.

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