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The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 15 Dissension in the Church 15.1. Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." These men were not sent by the apostles but took it upon themselves to visit the new Gentile churches that were springing up with the purpose of imposing upon these new converts that it was necessary to be circumcised in order to be truly saved. In other words they had to become Jews before they could partake of the grace of God to receive salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul makes it quite clear in his letter to the Ephesians that there is nothing that anyone can do to be saved Jesus did it all (Ephesians 2:8). 15.2. When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement. Paul and Barnabas were certainly not going to stand by and see the work of Jesus Christ perverted by these people and so forcefully contended with them. The result was that the church at Antioch appointed Paul and Barnabas along with some others from among them to meet with the apostles at Jerusalem concerning this disagreement. 15.3. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they were relating at length the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. As they were being sent to Jerusalem as delegates the church provided for Paul and Barnabas all they would need for their journey. On the way they took every opportunity to witness to the Jewish brethren in Phoenicia and Samaria how the Gentiles were being saved. 15.4. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things God had done with them.
Arriving at Jerusalem they were warmly welcomed by the church and also by the apostles and elders. They reported all that God was doing among the Gentiles. 15:5 - 6. But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses." Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. However, some of the Pharisee who had become followers of the Lord stood up and said exactly the same as those who had come to Antioch that the Gentile believers would have to be circumcised in fulfilment of the law of Moses they; still believed that in order to be saved the Gentiles would have to become proselyte Jews. So the apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
The Apostles and Elders Consultation 15:7. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. It was not settled in a few minutes the debate was prolonged and settlement was not reached until Peter reminded them about the time when God had told him to go and preach the gospel to the Gentiles namely Cornelius and his household (Acts 10). 15:8 - 9. And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. God knows the heart of everyone (John2: 24 - 25) and confirmed that He had chosen the Gentiles to be heirs of Christ along with Jewish believers when He baptized them in the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44) the same as they had. God in Christ had taken away any difference between Jew and Gentile and cleansed their hearts through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2 14 - 16). 15:10. So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? As it was God who had done this Peter charged the council of challenging God’s sovereignty by putting a heavy yoke upon the disciples that none of their forefathers were able to bear. 15:11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are." Peter made it quite clear that the apostles believed that Jew and Gentile are saved in the same way through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2: 8 - 9). 15:12. The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. So the whole assembly kept quiet and listened to while Paul and Barnabas told them about all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. 15:13. After they stopped speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me.
After they had finished speaking James who is accepted as being the leader of the church in Jerusalem summarizes the scriptures referring to the plan and purpose from the beginning to include Gentiles into His plan of Salvation. 15:14 - 15. Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, He reminds them that Peter had explained how God had used him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles so that He could take a people from among them for His name. The words of the prophets foretold this was so. 15:16 - 18. 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,' says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago. These two verses are a quotation from Amos 9: 11 - 12 which Peter quotes to give authority to what he has said concerning the Gentiles being brought into the Kingdom of God. There was no argument against this as the Jews could do no other but accept that Amos’s prophecy referred to the Gentiles. The Lord had made this known from the beginning (Colossians 1:27). 15:19 "Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, The conclusion of this was that in Peter’s opinion that they should not impose any difficulties for those Gentiles who are turning to God. 15:20. but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. He further suggests that they send a letter to the Gentiles stating that they should not have anything to do with things that have been used for idol worship refrain from sexual immorality and not to eat any meat that has not been properly slaughtered and prepared for eating. Paul elaborates on these issues in his epistles particular to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 10:20). 15:21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath." The Law of Moses had been preached for many generations in synagogues on every Sabbath so the Jewish believers were already familiar with these things he proposed the Gentiles should be informed of. The letter therefore would only need to be directed to them.
Their Decision sent in a letter to the Gentile Churches 15:22. Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
All the apostles, elders and the whole church accepted this and decided to send as their representatives Judas, Barsabbas and Silas leaders in the church to go with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. 15:23. They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings! The letter was duly written and sent from the apostles, elders and the brethren to the Gentile brethren in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. The fact that they used the term brethren to the Gentiles shows that they were accepted as fellow believers in Christ. 15:24 Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused you, upsetting your minds by what they said, First of all they make it quite plain that the men that had come to the church in Antioch and caused confusion and had upset them were not sent by the church in Jerusalem. 15:25. -27. we have unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person. Those who were the bearers of the letter were unanimously chosen to be sent along with Barnabas and Paul. These two men had risked their lives in taking the gospel message of Jesus Christ into Asia (Acts 13:50). Judas and Silas were going with Paul and Barnabas to confirm and explain the decision of the church in Jerusalem. 15:28. For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules: The whole council had been open to be guided by the Holy Spirit in their deliberation and decision concerning this dissension therefore they could with complete confidence say that the will of the Holy Spirit not to place any greater burden than the following rules. 15:29. that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell. They should not eat meat that has been offered as a sacrifice to idols (1 Cor. 10: 18 - 20) nor to eat any meat that still has the blood in it (Lev.17:14). They were not to commit any sexual immorality (Rev. 2:14). If as Christians they keep themselves from these things they will be doing the right things and be blessed. Farewell or literally be strengthen be strong. 15:30. So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter. The letter was given to those appointed to delivered it and they went to Antioch where the church gathered together to receive it. It is to be realized that this was an important matter concerning Gentile believers as it would have a bearing upon every Gentile converted thereafter.
15:31. When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement. The letter was read out to the whole church and on hearing its contents they greatly rejoiced and were encouraged that it was not necessary to be circumcised and that the rulings were a practical outcome of their conversion from idol worship to Christianity. 15:32. Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech. Judas and Silas then preached long messages of encouragement that strengthened the believers in Antioch. 15:33 - 34. After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. They did not rush off back to Jerusalem but stayed a long while after which the church were ready to send them on their way being very grateful for their ministry. However, Silas decided to remain at Antioch.
Paul and Barnabas dispute and separate 15:35. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming (along with many others) the word of the Lord. Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and preaching the word of the Lord along with many others. 15:36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing." After a while Paul thought it time that he and Barnabas should return to the other towns they had preached the gospel message to see how things were going, that is Syria, Pamphylia, Pisidia. 15:37 - 39. Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. Barnabas wanted John Mark to go with them but Paul objected to this because he had turned back at Pamphylia and had not continued in the work with them. Paul does not want the same to happen again and the work jeopardized. 15:39. They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, Remember that John Mark was a relation of Barnabas he persisted that he should go with them and Paul was as adamant that he should not. The contention was so sharp between them that they separated company and Barnabas took John Mark and went to Cyprus. 15:40. but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters.
Paul chose Silas as his companion and fellow worked and set out being commended by the church to the grace of the Lord. 15:41. He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. He travelled throughout Syria and Cilicia building up and establishing the churches through these regions. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2015. Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org