361 Then Elihu continued and said , 2 "Wait for me a little , and I will show you That there is yet more to be said in God's behalf. 3 "I will fetch my knowledge from afar , And I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker . 4 "For truly my words are not false ; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 "Behold , God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding . 6 "He does not keep the wicked alive , But gives justice to the afflicted . 7 "He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous ; But with kings on the throne He has seated them forever , and they are exalted . 8 "And if they are bound in fetters , And are caught in the cords of affliction , 9 Then He declares to them their work And their transgressions , that they have magnified themselves. 10 " He opens their ear to instruction , And commands that they return from evil . 11 "If they hear and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity And their years in pleasures . 12 "But if they do not hear , they shall perish by the sword And they will die without knowledge . 13 "But the godless in heart lay up anger ; They do not cry for help when He binds them. 14 "They die in youth , And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes .
15 "He delivers the afflicted in their affliction , And opens their ear in time of oppression . 16 "Then indeed , He enticed you from the mouth of distress , Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint ; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness . 17 "But you were full of judgment on the wicked ; Judgment and justice take hold of you. 18 "Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing ; And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside . 19 "Will your riches keep you from distress , Or all the forces of your strength ? 20 "Do not long for the night , When people vanish in their place . 21 "Be careful , do not turn to evil , For you have preferred this to affliction . 22 "Behold , God is exalted in His power ; Who is a teacher like Him? 23 "Who has appointed Him His way , And who has said , ' You have done wrong '?
24 "Remember that you should exalt His work , Of which men have sung . 25 "All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar . 26 "Behold , God is exalted , and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable e . 27 "For He draws up the drops of water , They distill rain from the mist , 28 Which the clouds pour down , They drip upon man abundantly . 29 "Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds , The thundering of His pavilion ? 30 "Behold , He spreads His lightning about Him, And He covers the depths of the sea . 31 "For by these He judges peoples ; He gives food in abundance . 32 "He covers His hands with the lightning , And commands it to strike the mark . 33 "Its noise declares His presence ; The cattle also , concerning what is coming up.
371 "At this also my heart trembles , And leaps from its place . 2 "Listen closely to the thunder of His voice , And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth . 3 "Under the whole heaven He lets it loose , And His lightning to the ends of the earth . 4 "After it, a voice roars ; He thunders with His majestic voice , And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard . 5 "God thunders with His voice wondrously , Doing great things which we cannot comprehend .
6 "For to the snow He says , 'Fall on the earth ,' And to the downpour e and the rain e , 'Be strong .' 7 "He seals the hand of every man , That all men may know His work . 8 "Then the beast goes into its lair And remains in its den . 9 "Out of the south comes the storm , And out of the north the cold . 10 "From the breath of God ice is made , And the expanse of the waters is frozen . 11 "Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud ; He disperses the cloud of His lightning . 12 "It changes direction , turning around by His guidance , That it may do whatever e He commands it On the face of the inhabited earth . 13 "Whether for correction , or for His world , Or for lovingkindness , He causes it to happen .
14 "Listen to this , O Job , Stand and consider the wonders of God . 15 "Do you know how God establishes them, And makes the lightning of His cloud to shine ? 16 "Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds , The wonders of one perfect in knowledge , 17 You whose garments are hot , When the land is still because of the south wind? 18 "Can you, with Him, spread out the skies , Strong as a molten mirror ? 19 "Teach us what we shall say to Him; We cannot arrange our case because e of darkness . 20 "Shall it be told Him that I would speak ? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 "Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies ; But the wind has passed and cleared them. 22 "Out of the north comes golden splendor; Around God is awesome majesty . 23 "The Almighty - we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness . 24 "Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart ."
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders , with the whole church , to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas -Judas called Barsabbas , and Silas , leading men among the brethren , 23 and they sent this letter by them, " The apostles and the brethren who are elders , to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles , greetings . 24 "Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words , unsettling your souls , 25 it seemed good to us, having become of one mind , to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul , 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . 27 "Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas , who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials : 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication ; if you keep yourselves free from such things , you will do well . Farewell ." 30 So when they were sent away , they went down to Antioch ; and having gathered the congregation together , they delivered the letter . 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement . 32 Judas and Silas , also being prophets themselves , encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message . 33 After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out. 34 [But it seemed good to Silas to remain there .] 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch , teaching and preaching with many others also , the word of the Lord .
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas , "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord , and see how they are." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John , called Mark , along with them also . 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work . 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another , and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus . 40 But Paul chose Silas and left , being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord . 41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia , strengthening the churches .
(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.
