361 And Elihu proceeded and said, 2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet words for +God. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Creator. 4 For truly my words shall be no falsehood: one perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 Lo, God is mighty, but despiseth not [any]; mighty in strength of understanding: 6 He saveth not the wicked alive; but he doeth justice to the afflicted. 7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne doth he even set them for ever; and they are exalted. 8 And if, bound in fetters, they be held in cords of affliction, 9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions, because they have increased. 10 And he openeth their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they hearken and serve [him], they shall accomplish their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12 But if they hearken not, they shall pass away by the sword, and expire without knowledge. 13 But the godless in heart heap up anger; they cry not when he bindeth them: 14 Their soul dieth in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
15 But he delivereth the afflicted in his affliction, and openeth their ear in [their] oppression. 16 Even so would he have allured thee out of the jaws of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and the supply of thy table [would be] full of fatness. 17 But thou art full of the judgments of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold [on thee]. 18 Because there is wrath, [beware] lest it take thee away through chastisement: then a great ransom could not avail thee. 19 Will he esteem thy riches? Not gold, nor all the resources of strength! 20 Desire not the night, when peoples are cut off from their place. 21 Take heed, turn not to iniquity; for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22 Lo, God is exalted in his power: who teacheth as he? 23 Who hath appointed him his way? or who hath said, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men celebrate. 25 All men look at it; man beholdeth [it] afar off. 26 Lo, God is great, and we comprehend [him] not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27 For he draweth up the drops of water: they distil in rain from the vapour which he formeth, 28 Which the skies pour down [and] drop upon man abundantly. 29 But can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the crashing of his pavilion? 30 Lo, he spreadeth his light around him, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For with them he judgeth the peoples; he giveth food in abundance. 32 [His] hands he covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike. 33 His thundering declareth concerning him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.
371 Aye, my heart trembleth at this also, and leapeth up out of its place: 2 Hear attentively the roar of his voice, and the murmur going forth from his mouth. 3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency, and holdeth not back the flashes when his voice is heard. 5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice, doing great things which we do not comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Fall on the earth! and to the pouring rain, even the pouring rains of his might. 7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. 8 And the wild beast goeth into its lair, and they remain in their dens. 9 From the chamber [of the south] cometh the whirlwind; and cold from the winds of the north. 10 By the breath of God ice is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11 Also with plentiful moisture he loadeth the thick clouds, his light dispels the cloud; 12 And they are turned every way by his guidance, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the circuit of the earth, 13 Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, Job; stand still and discern the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know how +God hath disposed them, and how he causeth the lightning of his cloud to flash? 16 Dost thou know about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge? 17 How thy garments become warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? 18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, firm, like a molten mirror? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him! We cannot order [our words] by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him if I would speak? if a man [so] say, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 And now [men] see not the light as it gleameth, it is [hidden] in the skies. But the wind passeth by and cleareth them. 22 From the north cometh gold; with +God is terrible majesty. 23 The Almighty, we cannot find him out: excellent in power, and in judgment, and in abundance of justice, he doth not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
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, 23 having by their hand written [thus]: The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are from among [the] nations at Antioch, and [in] Syria and Cilicia, greeting: 24 Inasmuch as we have heard that some who went out from amongst us have troubled you by words, upsetting your souls, [saying that ye must be circumcised and keep the law]; to whom we gave no commandment; 25 it seemed good to us, having arrived at a common judgment, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will tell you by word [of mouth] the same things. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication; keeping yourselves from which ye will do well. Farewell. 30 They therefore, being let go, came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude delivered to [them] the epistle. 31 And having read it, they rejoiced at the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with much discourse, and strengthened them. 33 And having passed some time [there], they were let go in peace from the brethren to those who sent them. 34 35 And Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and announcing the glad tidings, with many others also, of the word of the Lord.
36 But after certain days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city where we have announced the word of the Lord, [and see] how they are getting on. 37 And Barnabas proposed to take with [them] John also, called Mark; 38 but Paul thought it not well to take with them him who had abandoned them, [going back] from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 There arose therefore very warm feeling, so that they separated from one another; and Barnabas taking Mark sailed away to Cyprus; 40 but Paul having chosen Silas went forth, committed by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.
(Read Acts 15:22-35)
Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good unto God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things before mentioned, which were necessary, either on their own account, or from present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were no longer imposed on them, which perplexed the conscience, but could not purify or pacify it; and that those who troubled their minds were silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored, and that which threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for which they blessed God. Many others were at Antioch. Where many labour in the word and doctrine, yet there may be opportunity for us: the zeal and usefulness of others should stir us up, not lay us asleep.
(Read Acts 15:36-41)
Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, no less than Paul and Barnabas, yet made to end well. Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them. We should suspect ourselves of being partial, and guard against this in putting our relations forward. Paul did not think him worthy of the honour, nor fit for the service, who had departed from them without their knowledge, or without their consent: see 13. Neither would yield, therefore there was no remedy but they must part. We see that the best of men are but men, subject to like passions as we are. Perhaps there were faults on both sides, as usual in such contentions. Christ's example alone, is a copy without a blot. Yet we are not to think it strange, if there are differences among wise and good men. It will be so while we are in this imperfect state; we shall never be all of one mind till we come to heaven. But what mischief the remainders of pride and passion which are found even in good men, do in the world, and do in the church! Many who dwelt at Antioch, who had heard but little of the devotedness and piety of Paul and Barnabas, heard of their dispute and separation; and thus it will be with ourselves, if we give way to contention. Believers must be constant in prayer, that they may never be led by the allowance of unholy tempers, to hurt the cause they really desire to serve. Paul speaks with esteem and affection both of Barnabas and Mark, in his epistles, written after this event. May all who profess thy name, O loving Saviour, be thoroughly reconciled by that love derived from thee which is not easily provoked, and which soon forgets and buries injuries.
