Introduction: This chapter covers the first Church Council meeting in Jerusalem, and the decisions reached after all sides presented their statements. The result was a request for Gentile believers to stop doing four things which Jewish-background believers, and possibly unbelieving Jews, would find offensive. The last portion of this chapter describes briefly the split between Paul and Barnabas, and the two pathways each man took.
The Problem and the People:
Text: Acts 15:1-4, KJV: 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Thoughts:
--Although not stated openly, these “men from Judaea” could have been Pharisees (also, see verse 5). This group had existed since about 200 years before the time of Jesus, trying to live righteous lives, according to the Law—but also according to traditions.
--Part of their teaching (commands?) was that any believer—apparently either Jew or Gentile—had to be circumcised or else couldn’t be saved. Paul may have had this in mind when he wrote in Romans 4, at a later date, about the role of faith and the role of circumcision in Abraham’s own journey to faith in God.
--Circumcision was never intended to be a means of salvation. The first recorded instance of this was with Abraham and all the men in his household (see Genesis 17) but Abraham had “believed” God in chapter 15. Abraham was 75 when he left Ur of the Chaldees (Gen 12:4), 86 when Ishmael, son of Hagar, was born (Gen. 16:16) and 99 when he was circumcised, before Isaac, his son with Sarah, was born (Gen. 17:24), 24 years after he believed in the Lord. So then, circumcision had nothing to do with salvation.
--Paul and Barnabas, who had been preaching the grace of God and seen any number of Gentiles believing the Gospel, rightly took issue with this teaching. This contention, incredibly, became so strong that Paul, Barnabas, and some other believers as well, should go to Jerusalem for the apostles and elders to solve this problem or answer this question, once and for all.
--This group passed through Phenice and Samaria on their way to Jerusalem. Phenice was the same as Phoenicia, the land of Tyre, Sidon, and related territory, and some of the first set of missionaries (!) who had fled Jerusalem after Stephen’s execution seemed to have stayed there (see Acts 11:19). Samaria was the site of Philip’s ministry (Acts 8) and he led many of the Samaritans to faith in Jesus as well. As Paul, Barnabas, and the others described how so many Gentiles had believed, these rejoiced and “caused great joy unto all the brethren (verse 3)”.
--When the group from Antioch arrived in Jerusalem, the Church plus the apostles and elders received them. This is a good indication of genuine brotherhood among believers.
--Then they described (“declared”, KJV) all the things “God had done with them.” There were plenty of these things!
The Discussion and Debate:
Text, Acts 15:5-21, KJV: 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Thoughts:
--At least some of the Pharisees had believed the Gospel. The problem is that they were insisting that everyone, especially Gentile believers, become circumcised and follow the Law of Moses. In a word, these Pharisees wanted all believers to become Jews in every sense of the word except physical relationship with Abraham. Paul wrote about this in Romans 4.
--Incredibly there was a great deal of disputing about this issue. We can look back and see that the Law was given only to Israel and to Gentiles who converted to Judaism or the Jewish faith.
--This passage doesn’t explain part of the reason for the controversy but Paul gave a detailed explanation in his letter to the Galatians.
--Peter spoke to the issue, reminding them all how God had chosen him to share the gospel with Cornelius, the Roman centurion, in Acts 10. It’s not recorded in this speech of his that some of the Jewish believers were very upset that he had done this, but later rejoiced that God had opened the door of salvation to Gentiles as well as Jews (Acts 11:1-18). Why had they forgotten this?
--Peter closed his remarks with a plea to not force Gentiles under the Law, observing that nobody had been able to bear “the yoke” of the Law.
--Next came Paul and Barnabas, declaring what God had done through them as they had ministered to the Gentiles. One wonders if they could see, first hand, the damage to Paul’s body from the time he was stoned almost to death in Lystra (Acts 14:19-20).
--The last message came from James, most likely the Lord’s half-brother (Mark 6:3, Gal. 1:19, 1 Corinthians 15:7). He reminded the audience that God had planned to bring salvation to the Gentiles, quoting from Amos 9:11-12, perhaps from the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
--James also made a list of final recommendations, requesting the Gentile believers to abstain, or stop the practices of these things:
-“’pollutions’ of idols (several commentators take this to mean not eating food that had been sacrificed to idols. Paul wrote at length about this in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10)”;
-to stay away from fornication (they may have remembered Hosea’s wife Gomer, who left him and became a harlot for a period of time. Fornication had been part of idol worship for many years);
-to abstain from “things strangled (possibly a reference to meat that had not had the blood drained or removed from the carcass. This was forbidden in the Law (Lev. 17:10-14, 19:26), and even before (Genesis 9:6), one of the first commands God gave Noah and his family. Years later, Saul’s army got themselves into trouble by eating meat that still had the blood in it (1 Samuel 14:31-35). Saul did take corrective action but it may have been too little, too late.
-to abstain from blood itself, again prohibited in the Law (Lev. 3:17, 7:26-27, Deut. 12:16, 23). Besides eating blood (and who would want to do this?) there were other practices or times when people could come in contact with blood. Few commentators, though, mention these.
--James closed his message by reminding the group that “Moses”, probably a reference to the entire OT, especially the Law, was read in every synagogue on every Sabbath. Paul and Barnabas had experienced this “liturgy” themselves in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:15).
The Decision and Declaration:
Text, Acts 15: 22-29, KJV: 22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Thoughts:
--James made a judgment or opinion, and nothing more, than that the Gentile believers abstain from four practices which would offend Jewish-background believers. Now the apostles, elders, and “the whole church” sent “chosen men” to Antioch of Syria along with Paul and Barnabas.
--Judas had the same surname, “Barsabas”, as the other candidate to replace Judas as the Twelfth Apostle (his name was Joseph Justus, Acts 1:23) but there is nothing else to suggest these men were related by blood. This Judas is seldom mentioned after this chapter.
--Silas was also known as “Silvanus (2 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Thess. 1:1, 2 Thess. 1:1, and 1 Peter 5:12). Silas seems to be a shortened form of “Silvanus”
--Verses 23-29 have the text of the letter, showing the problem, the solution, and the approval from not only those who discussed the issue but also from the Holy Spirit. Many problems would be solved if the Holy Spirit was asked to be involved.
The Delivery and Reception
Text, Acts 15:30-35, KJV: 30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
--The group of four, plus perhaps others, left Jerusalem and made it to Antioch. The first thing they did was get “the multitude (of believers)” together. Then, the group “delivered” the epistle or letter of verse 23. This does not imply anyone spoke the language of the letter.
--But the multitude did “read” the letter but it is not certain if people took turns reading it, or if one or more of the believers read the letter out loud. The results were the same: the people “rejoiced for the consolation (translated “encouragement” in some other translations)”!
--Judas and Silas were New Testament prophets. They exhorted the brethren, and confirmed them. Barnabas and Saul had done much the same thing at an earlier time (Acts 11:19-26).
--The phrase, “they were let go in peace” is not easy to understand as translated in the KJV. Most likely this means that once their ministry of exhortation and teaching was over, the people who had come from Jerusalem went back there. Judas may have been one of these but Silas wanted to stay there in Antioch!
--Luke summarizes the tremendous growth in Antioch by mentioning Paul and Barnabas staying there, teaching and preaching the Word “with many others also”. Just a few years before, there were only a few if any believers; now, “many” are teaching and preaching the Word!
The Double Departures
Text, Acts 15: 36-41, KJV: 36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Thoughts:
--It’s never mentioned how much time had come and gone between the first time Paul and Barnabas had gone on a “missionary journey” such as Acts 13-14. Note the concern Paul had in his heart about the relatively new believers who had come to faith in Christ.
--A major problem came up, however. Barnabas wanted to take (John) Mark along with them and Paul wanted nothing to do with him at the time. This was because Mark had left them after they had finished in Cyprus but prior to going on into Pisidia and other parts Asia Minor.
--No one has come to a definite conclusion why Mark left Paul and Barnabas, especially since Barnabas was Mark’s uncle (“sister’s son”, Colossians 4:10). No need to guess, as the Lord has not chosen to reveal this to us. Perhaps it could be a reference to anyone’s situation?
--In one of the saddest incidents in Church history, Paul and Barnabas had such a strong disagreement that they left each other. Barnabas took Mark and they went to Cyprus—which was where Barnabas had once owned property (Acts 4:36-37), even though Mark’s mother, named Mary, lived in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). Again, no reason was given and no need to explore further.
--It is ironic that Barnabas was the one, and seemingly only one, who believed Paul when he was still “Saul of Tarsus”, and tried to fellowship with other believers (Acts 9:26-30).
--Barnabas is not mentioned in Scripture after this. His ministry of encouragement and desire to strengthen new believers was and is admirable. We could use many more like him even today.
--Paul took Silas, who had decided to stay in Antioch, to go with him on the new journey. These two men were “commended by the brethren unto the grace of God”, then went through Syria (territory where this Antioch was located) and Cilicia (Tarsus was the leading city). Their mission: to confirm or strengthen the churches.
--They were going to encounter a lot more than that.
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
