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Acts 15:12-29
And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon [Simon] has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
I”ve always had an ambivalent feeling about titles. Is it Pastor Bahn? That feels warm and welcome. Is it Rev. Bahn? That feels OK, but can be a little stiff. And how about Dr. Bahn? When I was growing up, our pastor was always called, Dr. Holland. But I’ve always been a little hesitant to claim that title – even though I do have an earned Doctor of Ministry degree. So I’m likely to make light of that by correcting someone saying, “It’s The Reverend Doctor David Bahn.” I say it in mock haughtiness. I’m honored that people want to honor me, but I don’t want to lean on the title. I want to earn the honor by faithful service.
But any honor I have earned pales in comparison to the honor Barnabas and Paul deserve. Paul will make a big deal of his standing as an apostle as time goes on. He will even boast of his bonafides much later in his writings.
If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. – Philippians 3:4-6
But just as quickly he dismisses any cause for boasting: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7).
On this occasion, when he and Barnabas are reporting on the conversion of the Gentiles, James makes a point about how Barnabas and Paul had risked their lives for the sake of the gospel. They are sent back to the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia along with two others. All four must have been men of good repute. They are honored just by having been sent; entrusted with delivering the message of their acceptance in the fellowship of the redeemed.
Paul would write his magnum opus many years later: the letter to the Romans. There he would say, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:7).
You can call me by whatever name or title you wish. Paul was respected and held in high regard. But we must never lose sight of the One to whom all honor is due. Our Lord Jesus Christ is due all praise, honor, respect, faith, and love. He is the One Paul preached and risked his life for. He is the One who will receive “blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might forever and ever! Amen” (cf. Romans 7:12).
David Bahn - Reflections 
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