Acts 15 Commentary

False teachers from Judea arrive in Antioch. They claim that Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved. Paul and Barnabas dispute this claim. The church of Antioch sends Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders. On the journey, the pair visit churches in Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the believers about their missionary journey. In Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas give report on the Gentiles in Galatia who believed in Jesus. In response, some Pharisees demand that these Gentiles be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law.

There is further debate with the Pharisees who want Gentiles to become circumcised and follow the Law in order to be saved. Peter gives his rebuttal. He preached to the Gentiles first. He saw the Holy Spirit fill them when they believed without them having to be circumcised or follow any religious rules. Peter poses the question, “Why would we add the Law to the Gentiles? They are saved just as we are, through faith in Jesus.”

James, the half-brother of Jesus and elder in the Jerusalem church, quotes the Old Testament to show that God had foretold that He would call Gentiles to Himself. And now the Jews are seeing this come true. Gentiles are believing in God and the Son of God. That being the case, there is no need to bother Gentiles with following Jewish Law. However, the least they should do is stay away from anything associated with pagan idolatry, and they should be sexually pure in order that they might not be estranged from fellowship with their Jewish brethren.

The apostles and elders choose two men, Judas and Silas, to accompany Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with a letter written to Gentile believers. The letter summarizes the conclusion of the Council: “The men teaching you to become circumcised and follow the Law were not sent by us. You do not need to do that. We agree with Paul and Barnabas and have sent our own men who will confirm this. As long as you stay away from idolatry, things sacrificed to idols, and immoral sex, you will do well.”

Paul decides to visit the churches he and Barnabas planted in Cyprus and Galatia. Barnabas agrees, but wants to take John Mark with them again. Paul is completely opposed to this idea. John Mark abandoned them in the middle of the first mission trip. Because of this intense disagreement, Barnabas and John Mark go to Cyprus, and Paul sets out for Galatia. Paul travels by land, visiting churches in Syria and Cilicia along the way. Silas goes with him. This is Paul’s second missionary journey.