DIVINE OPERATIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY READING (1)
DIVINE OPERATIONS IN THE ASSEMBLY READING (1)
Acts 2: 1 - 4; Acts 2: 37 - 47; Acts 15: 6 - 23
SMcC As the assembly has such a prime place in the divine mind in relation to divine operations in this dispensation, it is felt we cannot consider the subject too much, especially in view of these last days. We need to see the importance of the assembly, and how the thought of teaching and ministry appear in relation to it, all bearing on the linking of the saints together in the unity of the faith.
First, the inaugural side in Acts 2, where the assembly is formed by the Spirit, coming as He does. There is something about the inaugural side that we should never lose sight of, as important principles are set out in regard to ministry and the truth. The Spirit is helping us to reach consciously in some way what existed at the beginning, although publicly the difference is great, because of the breakdown; there is a glory about the pristine setting in the beginning that we do not have publicly at the end. But the consideration of what is here in chapter 2 - the coming of the Holy Spirit, the weight and authority of the speaking, and perseverance in the teaching - are all prime features that should now engage us.
In chapter 15, where the saints are gathered together, the operation of the ministry is seen in the remarkable way in which different ones speak prophetically, thereby promoting unity amongst the brethren. There was no evidence in what they said of any divergent views, although they were dealing with a matter the enemy intended should divert, and was diverting, the brethren; but the apostles, as gathered together with the saints, set out in a most interesting and affecting manner the way the truth was supported and maintained.
These verses in chapter 2 should impress us with the manner of the speaking. Two things enter into the authority of the ministry (peculiarly set out in the apostles) which are conveyed in the two words employed in Acts 1 for authority and power. One word links authority with the commission given to the apostles, and the other links with ability, by the Spirit, to speak and to set out the truth. These two features of authority and power are important to notice, and they are seen in the Lord Himself in the gospels.
GMS Are you referring to verse 7 of chapter 1? Does the Lord distinguish the words when He says, “It is not yours to know times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own authority; but ye will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you”?
SMcC We also find it in Luke 4 in what is set out as to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Himself. Mr. Darby points out in the margin in Acts 1 that the word for authority is “exousia” and means a right one possesses. That lies in the commission given by the Lord to the servants. The word for power is “dunamis”, which involves what is dynamic, and would work out in the power of the Spirit in the ability to set out the truth.
PL “If any one speak - as oracles of God; if any one minister - as of strength which God supplies; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the might for the ages of ages. Amen” (1 Peter 4: 11). Does that link on with what you are saying?
SMcC Yes, it does, because it impresses us with the thought of authority in speaking as to the truth. It is not just a matter of popular or careless expression, but, as divinely strengthened, of representing God.
APCL Does the one matter lie in sovereignty and the other in making room for the Spirit?
SMcC That is how one understands it. It is important in relation to teaching and ministry in the assembly, that these two thoughts should be apprehended in their distinctiveness, because all around us teaching and ministry are so lowered and degraded as a result of the principle of every man doing what is right in his own eyes and saying what he thinks.
AJG Have you in mind that, while the assembly does not teach, it was necessary for the assembly to be established first as the pillar and base of the truth before the teaching could proceed?
SMcC That is it. While the assembly does not teach, it is taught, and the teaching is to promote unity. At the beginning of Acts, when they were all together, we might view them as the result of the Lord’s ministry and service. They were the products of it. Verse 44, “And all that believed were together”, would be the result of the kind of teaching and ministry of Peter and the others.
LES Micah 3: 8 says, “But truly I am filled with power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and with judgment and with might, to declare unto Jacob”, etc.
SMcC It is important that we should understand that principle in ministry.
LES It also says, “Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel” (Micah 3: 1).
SMcC There is an onus and responsibility on those who hear. In Acts 2 the onus and responsibility are realised, and we have a reaction to the truth as it is presented. It is well to bear in mind, as we have been taught, that all truth is authoritative. In the Pentateuch the ministry of Moses is based on and characterised by revelation. It is both distinctive and authoritative - Moses himself having a distinct commission from God. Corresponding with that, in the New Testament, we have the apostles, who set out the truth, and revelation linked with them. We do not have the apostles today, but certain features and principles are set out in the ministry and teaching of the apostles which carry through. When we come to the time of the revival, in men like Mr. Darby, Mr. Raven, Mr. Stoney, and latterly Mr. Taylor, we have the distinct evidence of men who had a commission, their ministry giving character to the revival. Mr. Darby’s was somewhat apostolic in principle, giving character to the general scope of the truth in the revival. Latterly Mr. Taylor’s ministry gave character to the whole scope of the service of God. We are to realise that the truth in that relation is authoritative.
CMM Would you please distinguish between authority and infallibility?
SMcC The Scriptures are both authoritative and infallible. Ministry is authoritative but not infallible.
JSE Is there something for us to learn in this first scripture we read, namely, that as the authority is respected, so the persons who respect it come into the gain and power of the teaching?
SMcC That is how I understand it, and it is the clear line of demarcation between what is amongst us and what is around us. In certain parts meetings like these could not be held because of the lawless nature of men’s minds and their insubordination to the authority linked with the divine presence in the assembly.
APCL Is it interesting that, in Acts 11: 26, when Saul is being brought forward, the same matter is set out in Antioch? “For a whole year they were gathered together in the assembly and taught a large crowd”; and, finally, the result in the disciples, “the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch”. That is in a Gentile setting.
SMcC All that shows the importance of the teaching, and what it means to the saints in the light of the assembly, especially as holding us together. If we are not held together by the truth and the teaching which has come to us in the power of the Spirit we shall become like Bethesda.
AA Is that suggested in verse 42, where the teaching and fellowship of the apostles seem to be interwoven, “They persevered in the teaching and fellowship of the apostles”?
SMcC The importance of that verse is that they persevered in the teaching; not any kind of teaching, but “the teaching and fellowship of the apostles, in breaking of bread and prayers”. Teaching in an authoritative way is set out in the service of the apostles.
AA I was thinking of the way the two are connected by the word “and”: “the teaching and fellowship of the apostles”. They seem to be almost interwoven.
SMcC They are bound up together, the teaching coming first.
JSE Does what you are saying give some particular richness to the setting of the supper in Luke’s gospel, in that the emphasis is not on the twelve but on the apostles?
SMcC Luke links on sympathetically with Paul’s ministry and would remind us of the authoritative side of the setting of the supper. Paul says, “I received from the Lord, that which I also delivered to you” (1 Corinthians 11: 23). There was definite authority in what he communicated to the Corinthians in placing the supper in its proper position in the assembly.
FM Throughout Acts there is no weakening of the principle of authority as Paul is introduced.
SMcC What we have in the twelve, in the way of authority and power in ministry, is continued and seen in Paul. It is important that we should see the great place that the Holy Spirit has in the first few verses of Acts 2, and the essential need of making room for Him.
MAW Does the fact that the sound came out of heaven govern all this?
SMcC That is important, because the authority of the truth as we are referring to it is peculiarly heavenly. The Spirit has come from heaven, and He brings a report of what is there. We are in the immediate presence of heaven, as it were, if we are in the presence of the Spirit.
JAC How far does the thought of commission apply to ministry generally? Commission in apostolic ministry is clear, but is there a side of authority that enters into all forms of ministry and service? For example, “How shall they preach unless they have been sent?” (Romans 10: 15), and then the Holy Spirit setting some as overseers over the flock.
SMcC In greater or lesser degree it appears in all service on the principle of being sent. Service is not viewed in that way as voluntary. We are commissioned even in preaching the gospel, as sent. What one is alluding to in the apostles, and particularly in what is set out by Mr. Darby, Mr. Taylor and others, is distinctive commission, because their ministry is characterised by peculiar authority, and matters universally in the assembly are affected by it. To illustrate this, the service of God has been peculiarly affected by the ministry of Mr. Taylor in recent years.
AH It seems from verse 41 that there is a subject state in the hearers: “those then who had accepted his word”. Do we need to watch that in ourselves in the ministry?
SMcC That is important. The note to the word “accepted” is interesting. It means “to receive in full”, or “with satisfaction”, or “as to an opinion of teaching”, to accept and receive it as true.
AR Would that be the Berean spirit - “Receiving the word with all readiness of mind” (Acts 17: 11)? Sometimes trouble comes through this lack of readiness to receive the ministry as it is presented to us.
SMcC This subject attitude of mind that has been referred to should mark us. Here it appears in relation to the gospel and those who were under the sound of it in Peter’s preaching. “Those then who had accepted his word were baptised” (verse 41). “His word” would allude to the authority in Peter’s ministry.
AM Would you say something more as to all ministry being authoritative and yet not infallible?
SMcC It is very obvious and apparent to all that ministry is not infallible. No one would question that. The Scriptures are infallible. The difficulty is that some advance this thought of the ministry not being infallible in order to weaken its authority in the minds of the brethren. The enemy is in that.
AM In connection with verse 41 and what you said about “they accepted his word”, would that not involve the recognition of the vessel who was speaking?
SMcC It is Peter’s word. It is the man and his commission; not an ordinary person, but a man with a distinctive commission - “First Peter”. Matthew shows that Peter has a distinctive commission, and it is his word. We have to discern what is distinctive, and it is to be deprecated that, in some parts, there is a tendency to cast discredit on the authority of the ministry of beloved Mr. Taylor, especially in his later years. The enemy is in that, and it is incumbent upon every one of us to refuse it.
HMcL Would what you have in mind be seen in 1 Samuel 3: 19 - 21, “And all Israel ... knew that Samuel was established a prophet of Jehovah”?
SMcC That is very good, as we are dealing with what is established in the way of distinctive and authoritative ministry which peculiarly marked Mr. Darby, Mr. Raven, Mr. Stoney and Mr. Taylor in their service. These great and honoured servants have a distinctive place in the revival and we should honour that.
PL Is the move you refer to in opposition to the peculiar activities of the blessed Spirit to consolidate us in the vast extent of truth unfolded which has been bequeathed to us in the ministry of the beloved brother to whom you have particularly referred? We are now called in brotherly confidence to explore and exploit the vast territory which has come to us.
SMcC That is the position. So much has come out in the ministry of these men; how much there is that we have not yet fully entered into; and the Holy Spirit, having been drawn attention to in recent times, has a particular part in helping us to come into the whole scope of the truth. Whatever we are saying now must fit into the confines of the whole scope of the truth. It is not merely what some of us are saying here. It has to be taken account of in relation to the scope of the truth as it has come out.
AA Is the authoritative character of Peter’s ministry illustrated in Acts 10: 44, “While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word”? The word “logos” is used. Is that a reference to the authoritative character of Peter’s words?
SMcC That is a very interesting reference to the sovereign action of the Spirit in the embracing of the Gentiles, acting as He does in relation to what Peter was saying and ministering.
LES Could the faithful men of 2 Timothy 2 be regarded as commissioned?
SMcC Maybe, in greater or lesser degree. All service would be undertaken on that principle. The brethren will understand what is meant by the principle of being sent - commissioned in that sense. But there is also what is distinctive in Peter and the other apostles.
AEM Have we not received authoritative ministry as to the assembly calendar? The brethren are much confused about it. You will understand it by thinking of the list of notices.
SMcC In regard to the different meetings during the week, the verse at the end of Acts 2 would help us in the way in which the teaching, as pursued together, should unify us in those customs in our local gatherings.
AEM I raised the question in that connection, but the fact of the matter is that the brethren are not unified about it.
SMcC The Lord has been helping us as to unification. One has noticed that there are still some places where city readings are not held, and there are other places where local readings are not held. The Lord would draw our attention to all these things in order to secure uniformity in view of our persevering in “the teaching and fellowship of the apostles in breaking of bread and prayers”.
JGM Is it important, as being together in one place, that what is inaugural should be maintained? In 1 Corinthians 11: 20 Paul refers to being together in one place. Has the evidence of unity to be maintained as recognising the one place?
SMcC There is the importance of the hill of God and of the saints being together where there is more than one meeting in a city. They should be together in the light of the hill of God during the week.
PL In some places the meeting for ministry has taken the place of the normal weekly reading. What would you say as to that?
SMcC I think at first the Lord helped us, in drawing attention to the truth, to begin with a gradual approach to it. We need to understand that the city reading is important, that the full month should be filled out in regard to it, and that the meeting for ministry should not be substituted for the city reading.
PL Nor should any other meetings in the city for reading be dropped because of the ministry meeting occurring that week, would you say?
SMcC No, indeed. The great thing is to fill out the weekly assembly calendar in regard to meetings.
AH How do you distinguish between the meetings for ministry and what we speak of as the city readings?
SMcC Many years ago it was pointed out that on Lord’s Day we have the service of God; we are speaking to God in His service and we are engaged in the worship of divine Persons. On Monday we speak to Them in prayer, interceding with Them in regard to Their interests. It is fitting, therefore, that the meeting for prophetic ministry should come as soon as possible afterwards, to furnish divine Persons with an opportunity to speak to us. There is something distinctive about prophetic ministry. The meeting for prophetic ministry stands by itself, and particularly makes room for God to come in through a prophetic word. The reading involves the way we sit together in relation to one another, and particularly makes way for temple light.
CMM Some of our meetings are monthly, not weekly. Would such be governed by the assembly cycle which begins on the first day of the week?
SMcC No doubt, but it is important that the city reading should not be weakened. In some cities one has heard reference made to so much help and so much encouragement being given in the local readings, but we must see that the greatest feature in the local position in that connection is the city reading. It is not that local readings are not to be attended, but the city reading is important and should be attended.
AJG In the heavenly city we find that each of the twelve gates is of one pearl, so that every gate bears exactly the same features. Is that important?
SMcC That enters into this closing part of Acts 2 involving unification amongst the saints in what we do. Sometimes there is difficulty with some as to having the city reading in a particular room and not having a distinctive local reading in that room, but that is making too much of that part of the city. Why should it have something more than any other part of the city, seeing it already has a reading in that place filled out according to Acts 2 in the assembly calendar? Why should it want something additional?
APCL What is the difference between coming together in the assembly and teaching in the assembly? Something has been said as to certain meetings not being of assembly character.
SMcC 1 Corinthians 11 gives the character of the meeting in which the Lord’s Supper is taken. Perhaps in ten gatherings in certain cities each gathering bears or has that character. But in 1 Corinthians 14, where we have ministry in mind, it is formally stated as the assembly; the definite article is before it.
HB Is there any principle involved in a city taking an outside room for city meetings for the convenience of the saints?
SMcC Have you in mind that there would be no breaking of bread in that room in the city? It would depend upon the circumstances, but normally the readings would be in rooms where the breaking of bread is held. Of course, on an occasion such as this a special hall is hired to suit such a large gathering which is not really on the local calendar.
HB I have in mind the local city readings and meetings for ministry, and such other occasions that occur regularly.
SMcC Why do the brethren want to have these meetings in a separate room from the breaking of bread? Why do they not have the breaking of bread there?
HB Because of the difficulty of travelling across the city from one side to another, and in order to save time, etc.
SMcC I think I understand what is meant. In one city they have a large hall where there is no breaking of bread, but all the city readings are in that place, and the question would be as to the wisdom of it.
AEM Would we regard all testimony as linked with the Lord’s Supper?
SMcC That is important. We should keep to the fact that everything flows out of the Lord’s Supper in the week of assembly history. The Supper is the fountain head from whence all activities on the assembly calendar flow, and it would be more suitable and in keeping with the truth if the city readings were in places where the breaking of bread is held.
TM Would Paul’s word, “And thus I ordain in all the assemblies” maintain unity in the city?
SMcC That is it. How are you getting on in your city? Have you been helped in regard to what is on the assembly calendar?
TM Not quite, yet. The position is that not having these meetings in the beginning of the Acts is made an excuse for not accepting the present teaching.
SMcC I am glad you say, ‘Not quite, yet’. It means you are on the way, and the Lord will help, I am sure. There is need for help so that there may be no distinctive local customs that are different to what is generally in the assembly. It is important that we should be unified in what we do, and the Holy Spirit is helping us towards that end. This closing section of Acts 2 stresses, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common”. While this literally alludes to certain features distinctive to the inauguration of the dispensation, there is no doubt that a principle is in it. “All that believed.” It is not just that all were together. In the beginning of the chapter it says, “they were all together in one place”, but in verse 44 we have an added thought, “And all that believed were together”. The ministry and the apostles’ teaching and doctrine have come out, and they are together now in relation to the authority of the truth in their souls.
WH It says, “They persevered in the apostles’ doctrine”. Would that suggest that the difficulties we all experience in our localities are to be overcome?
SMcC Very good. “They persevered.” I am sure it is important that, in our localities, we should continually have regard to this matter of uniformity in the assembly calendar so that there are no distinctive local customs in any particular place.
Rem Which is the proper night for the city reading?
SMcC I should leave that to the wisdom of the saints. Some have thought that the mid-week was Wednesday, but that day was never implied or intended to be conveyed in using the expression “mid-week”. It is well that the reading should be mid-week; not on Monday night or Saturday night, but in the week, so that the full force and strength of evil and lawlessness in the city is counteracted in the assembly by what there is in the hill of God, and the presence of the Spirit.
APCL So that a joint meeting on Lord’s Day afternoon does not substitute for a city reading.
SMcC It certainly does not. The meeting on Lord’s Day afternoon is of a different character to the mid-week reading. The reading on Lord’s Day afternoon bears on the first day of the week: the city reading, during the week, bears on conditions in the city in the presence of evil.
PL It is a family affair more on Lord’s Day afternoon according to John’s gospel, but in the week a militant matter according to Matthew.
SMcC That is it. On Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, we sit down more in the light of the inheritance and our happy relations with one another, with divine affections flowing out of the assembly service in the morning. All this governs us.
FM When a visiting brother comes along we drop our local Lord’s Day afternoon reading and have a combined reading. What would you say about that? Would that break in on the family side that Mr. Lyon has referred to?
SMcC Do you not all come together in Edinburgh on Lord’s Day afternoon?
FM No, we have our local meetings.
SMcC The Lord has been helping us as to being all together on Lord’s Day afternoon in so far as we can be together. Of course in big cities, like London, Sydney, and New York, where there is a great number of meetings and the distances are large, the brethren come together in districts or in boroughs. How many gatherings have you in Edinburgh?
FM We have six. We have often spoken of having a combined reading on Lord’s Day afternoon, but it has not matured.
SMcC Detroit is a very large city and we are together every Lord’s Day afternoon, many having a good way to travel, but of course there are only two gatherings. It is good to be together on Lord’s Day afternoon.
FM We have proved that on many occasions.
Rem Do you pursue a book or do you have subjects at the joint reading on Sunday afternoon?
SMcC I should leave that to the discrimination and judgment of the brethren. We pursue a book; but if a brother who has some ability is visiting, room is made for him to suggest something. Generally a book is pursued and help would be given, but this does not exclude the consideration of subjects.
LES Do I understand that the ministry meeting should come early in the week rather than towards the end of the week?
SMcC One was referring to what Mr. Taylor said many years ago as to the sequence of the meetings. In the service of God on Lord’s Day morning we are serving Him and speaking to Him in His service. On Monday night we speak to Him in prayer and intercession, and opportunity should be given to Him as soon as possible to speak to us. Therefore most of the ministry meetings are on Tuesday night.
JGM Might I just refer again to the matter of place. In Liverpool we take a hall, specially, in the hub of the city where all the six meetings can gather for the ministry meeting, the city reading, and the care meeting. If that were not so, probably our company would fall by about 50 per cent. Are there extenuating circumstances where we can have a measure of liberty in this matter?
SMcC What do you mean by saying that your company would fall by 50 per cent?
JGM It would be impossible for a good many to get to the meetings, as we have the river between us. In Liverpool we have merged with Birkenhead and Wallasey, and the use of outlying rooms in Liverpool would make it impossible for those on the other side to get there. Likewise we in Birkenhead would have the same difficulty as Liverpool.
SMcC What was said earlier would apply. In New York there is a big harbour between the brethren on the one side and those on the other, which makes it impossible for them to be together on Lord’s Day afternoon and get back in time for the gospel. Therefore the brethren are all together on one side of the harbour and they are also together on the other on Lord’s Day. Why does that not apply where you come from? Why can they not be all together on one side and all together on the other side of the river on Lord’s Day if it is impossible for both sides to be together?
JGM I would not like to say it is impossible, but it would be most inconvenient.
SMcC The Lord would impress us on the Lord’s Day, as drinking into the grace and spirit of the sacrificing love set out in the Supper, that we should be particularly marked by sacrifice ourselves. There is so much self-consideration entering into these matters that we need to be helped as to sacrifice. One would bear in mind that, where conditions are impossible, it would be wisdom, perhaps, to apply what we have referred to.
JGM If I might detain the brethren further on this point, we have merged in Liverpool three meetings in the actual city: two in Birkenhead and one in Wallasey. If we revert to what you suggest - a meeting on one side of the river and one on the other - it would bring in the distinct cleavage again.
SMcC I do not think so. We are referring to the matter of the Lord’s Day afternoon and not to the city reading.
JGM I was referring to the week-night meetings.
SMcC I thought you had in mind the difficulty of getting back for the gospel on Lord’s Day afternoon. Liverpool is not so big that the brethren could not get from any part of the city to a reading during the week. If I remember rightly, the Birkenhead, Wallasey and Liverpool area is smaller than a few of the areas in other parts where the brethren do get together during the week.
DI Does the one place refer to one hall?
SMcC That is as I understand it.
DI So that all combined meetings should be in the one room.
SMcC It is better if they can be, although on Lord’s Day afternoon, as we have said, if the brethren find it impossible to be together from all the city because of the difficulty of getting back for the gospel they might find it possible to have readings in districts in the suburbs of the city.
GRC In view of what you have said as to the importance of the meeting for prophetic ministry, do you think we should regard as final the idea of having only one such meeting a month?
SMcC I would not care to say too much about that. What has been indicated in ministry has largely given character to what we do in our gatherings, and one would not care to suggest anything beyond that.
PL That very character of ministry in 14th of 1st Corinthians gives peculiar place, in the thought of two or three prophets speaking, to the consideration, in mercy, of what is upon the saints as to church obligations.
SMcC It might be something like that. The meeting for ministry is a very distinctive occasion by itself. It has a unique character of its own and there is something special about it. We have found a good deal of help in America in our three-day meetings in having meetings for ministry. While it retains its local character, there is always something distinctive about a meeting for ministry, because the mind of God comes into it and the mind of God may involve conditions that are beyond the immediate circumstances in which we are.
PL All I meant was that in regard to our brother’s enquiry as to whether meetings for prophetic ministry should enter into the assembly calendar more frequently than once a month, I think we all feel that if we fill out with zeal and love the full assembly obligations as has been suggested in recent years, our hands are pretty full.
SMcC Yes, I suppose that is so.
FM Give us some further help as to a meeting such as this devoted to ministry. How does it fit in with the assembly position in 1 Corinthians 14?
SMcC The position in regard to meetings in a city never alters the local character of the occasion. We are here with the brethren in Edinburgh, but that does not alter the local status in the city. We come into it, extending the matter, and having our part in it as merging with the local brethren. On that principle, in America, we have carried forward the meetings for ministry in our three-day occasions.
FM That is a point we can be helped on, because we would have had our ministry meeting tonight in this city, but we have postponed it for a week in view of this meeting today.
SMcC That is what the local brethren have arrived at. I certainly would have been glad to make room for it tonight. Nevertheless, there are certain circumstances in which it may not be altogether workable. In America when we have a meeting for ministry at our three-day gatherings the brethren are all together in the body of the hall; there is no special platform where those who are expected to speak sit. All sit in the body of the hall with a microphone available for anyone who may have a word from God. One difficulty in large gatherings like this, and those in London later in the month, is that those who will take part in a meeting of that character will be on the platform. Such an arrangement makes it difficult.
We should finish with a reference to Acts 15 in regard to the diversity of ministry in a difficult position. We have what we may call the diversity of gift appearing in Peter standing up (verse 7) and much discussion taking place: “Peter standing up said to them”; then in verse 12 it says, “And all the multitude kept silence and listened to Barnabas and Paul ... “; and verse 13, “James answered, saying, Brethren, listen to me: Simon has related how God first visited to take out of the nations a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets.” There is nothing more touching in this chapter than to see the unity among the brethren in ministry. In Peter, Barnabas, Paul and James the work of God is so coordinated that the ground which the enemy would entrench upon in regard to the truth is held. Verse 22 - “Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole assembly, to send chosen men from among them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Judas called Barsabas and Silas, leading men among the brethren ... “ - is a very fine example of the operation of ministry among the brethren gathered together in difficult conditions.
AJG Do you think the word given by Peter illustrates the word of wisdom we read of in the 12th chapter of 1st Corinthians? For he does not refer to the scripture, but speaks of his observation of what God is doing among the Gentiles. And would James bring in the word of prophecy, referring to the Scriptures, and enforcing the matter?
SMcC That is excellent, and it illuminates the passage as we take account of it. You will have noticed what Peter stands for. He says, “Brethren, ye know ... “ He is drawing attention to something that is within their knowledge. But when James stands up he says, “Brethren, listen to me ... “ He has a distinct prophetic word as to the matter on hand.
LES Would you say it is the authority of the ministry and the authority of the Scriptures brought together?
SMcC Very good, and it is important that the Scriptures should be brought in, and that they should govern the ministry. The standard of the truth is not in the ministry, but in the Scriptures, and they must be brought in to establish the truth set out in the ministry.
AH Is it helpful to see that James brings in the Scriptures to support the ministry already given?
SMcC Very good. He says, “And with this agree the words of the prophet”. He is not driving a wedge between the Scriptures and the ministry. He is not saying, I go by the Scripture to the exclusion of what Peter had said in the word of wisdom. He says, “With this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written”. The full weight of the Scriptures, in their infallibility, is brought in to support what had come out in Peter’s word.
FM There is the application of what the prophets said.
SMcC Exactly, showing how the Old Testament is drawn upon to help in a current matter. Some might have said, Well, that scripture has no bearing on this matter, but James is very emphatic. He is speaking as an oracle of God. He says, “And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written: After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up, so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who does these things known from eternity” (verses 15 - 17). It really refers to a coming day, but James brings it in to substantiate and support the word of wisdom given by Peter.
CMM To what extent would you make room today for the recounting of the work of God from other parts?
SMcC We have unique circumstances in the Acts. We do not have missionary meetings today, although we cover in our prayers, and in the letters that may be read at meetings for prayer, what God has wrought among the nations.
CMM It is good to read letters in that way for the stimulation of the saints.
AH Is it your thought that the elders here are functioning in the assembly?
SMcC They are in full support of the truth. It is a beautiful combination - the apostles, and the elders, and the whole assembly. Unity is arrived at in relation to the teaching of the truth at this particular issue in the assembly.
PL There is no domination - “and it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole assembly”. Are the brethren all getting at it, feeling their way, temple-wise, into the truth and consolidating it body-wise in the spirit in which they now diffuse the judgment they have reached?
SMcC And added to that there is the reference to the Holy Spirit, “It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (verse 28), showing that full room was made for the Holy Spirit so that they could bring Him in to what they had arrived at.