Acts 15

These men from Judea were Jewish Christians who taught that circumcision and conversion to Judaism were necessary for salvation. The main issue was how to welcome non-Jews into the Christian community. Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians around this time to oppose the same teaching in Galatia (see Galatians Book Introduction, “Date of Writing”).

The church in Antioch decided to send some delegates (representatives) to Jerusalem. They went to discuss this issue with the apostles and elders there. On the way, they visited believers in Phoenicia and Samaria. In these places, the Christian faith had already spread widely (chapter 8).

The first council of the church met to resolve the dispute concerning Gentiles and circumcision (15:1–2).

These Pharisees believed Jesus was the Messiah, but they still insisted on strict adherence to the law of Moses. Paul strongly opposed their perspective (see Galatians 1:6–9; 2:14–3:14).

Peter recalled his experience in Cornelius's household (chapter 10). He argued that God had accepted the Gentiles without circumcision by giving them the Holy Spirit. The grace of the Lord Jesus was available to people from all nations.

James, the brother of Jesus, said that the turning of the Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to God agreed with Scripture. He strongly argued that it was against God’s will to place extra rules on Gentiles who wanted to join God’s people.

Simon: This was Peter's original name (see Matthew 16:17–19).

Because God’s prophets had predicted the conversion and inclusion of the Gentiles, James argued that the Gentiles should be accepted as Gentiles, without requiring them to practice Judaism (15:1).

• Eating food offered to idols is sinful when it involves active participation in idol worship (see Exodus 20:4; Deuteronomy 5:8; Revelation 2:14, 20). However, Paul teaches that eating such food is not always wrong in itself. The concern is whether eating causes a fellow believer with a weak conscience to sin (1 Corinthians 8:4–13). Paul also warns against eating at a pagan temple, since that amounts to sharing in idol worship. But he permits eating food bought in the market or served at a meal without asking about its origin (10:14–30).

• sexual immorality: This was a common practice in the Greek world but is always sinful (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18; Galatians 5:19).

• the meat of strangled animals: The law of Moses prohibited eating meat with blood in it or consuming blood (Leviticus 17:10–12, 13–14). This was because “the life of all flesh is its blood” (Leviticus 17:14). Also, “it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (see Leviticus 17:11 and study note). Noah, the ancestor of both Gentiles and Jews, first received this command from God (Genesis 9:4).

The Jerusalem church selected two leaders to report its decision. They carried a letter from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem that explained the terms of the agreement.

Farewell: This is a common Greek greeting used to end a letter. In the New Testament, it appears only here. Paul often ended his letters with a stronger focus on God’s grace and peace (for example, 1 Corinthians 16:23–24; 2 Corinthians 13:13; see Ephesians 6:23–24; Philippians 4:23; Colossians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–28; 1 Timothy 6:21).

The Christians in Antioch were very happy to learn they did not need to convert to Judaism or follow all the laws of Moses. With the dispute settled, they could continue teaching and preaching without interruption.

The discordant separation of Paul and Barnabas is indicated by a very strong word in Greek (Their disagreement was so sharp). They were two dedicated men who disagreed about giving John Mark, Barnabas’s cousin, a second chance to join their missionary journey (Colossians 4:10). John Mark had left them in Pamphylia (see Acts 13:13). Eventually, Paul and John Mark made peace (2 Timothy 4:11).

After disagreeing with Barnabas about John Mark, Paul chose Silas as his partner for a second missionary journey through Syria and Cilicia. The two men traveled by land to visit Derbe and Lystra. They explained the decision of the Jerusalem council and strengthened believers in their faith.