Bible Study/Commentary
Overview of Acts Chapter 15
Acts chapter 15, addresses the question on whether Gentile believers are required to be circumcised, and keep the Law of Moses.
The apostles and elders in Jerusalem resolve this matter.
This is one of the most important issues for Gentile Believers.
If you are not a Jew by birth, you are a Gentile
Verses 1-5: The Jerusalem Council Regarding Gentile Believers
But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Paul and Barnabas were sent to the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem.
When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles and the elders.
They declared all that God had done with them.
But some who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said,
“It is necessary to circumcise them, and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
Verses 6-12: Peter's Testimony
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
After there had been much discussion, Peter stood up and said to them,
“Brothers, you know that in the early days,
God made a choice among you, that by my mouth, the Gentiles should hear the gospel, and believe.
And God, who knows the heart, gave them the Holy Spirit, as He did to us.
He made no distinction between us, and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
Why are you putting God to the test, by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, that neither our fathers, nor we, have been able to bear?
We believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as the Gentiles.”
Peter makes is very clear, that neither he, nor the fathers were able to bear the Law of Moses in the Old Testament.
There are many today who claim to be teachers, who teach that you are required to keep the Law.
They say things like, you must keep the
Ten Commandments.
But like the Pharisees, they do not keep the Law or the 10 Commandments.
Verses 13-21: James Decision
After they finished speaking, James replied,
“Brothers, listen to me.
Peter related how God first visited the Gentiles.
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
“‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the house of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles, who are called by my name."
Therefore, it is my judgment, that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles, who turn to God, but should write for them to abstain; from things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
If you keep yourselves from these, you will
do well.
Farewell.”
So they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the Church together, they delivered the letter, and the Church rejoiced because of its encouragement.
Verses 22-35: The Letter to the Gentiles
The decision of James seemed good to the apostles, the elders, and the whole Church.
They chose men to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, with the following letter.
“The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
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.
It seemed good to us, to choose men, and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:
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.”
So they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the Church together, they delivered the letter, and the Church rejoiced because of its encouragement.
Verses 36-41: Paul & Silas Strengthen the Churches in Syria & Cilicia
Paul and Silas departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
And they went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Summary
In Acts chapter 15, James' decision highlights that all who believe in Jesus, whether a Jew or a Gentile, are saved by Grace, through Faith.
We are not saved by Keeping the Law of Moses.
If you are not a Jew, you are a Gentile.
They clarified that Gentiles who believe in Jesus, must abstain:
1. from things polluted by idols, and
2. from sexual immorality, and
3. from what has been strangled, and
4. from blood.
They concluded that, If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well.
The Jerusalem Council
15 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
12 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 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.”
The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers
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.”
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Q&A
Acts 15:1-2
Q1: What issue arose in Antioch, and who came down to address it, as mentioned in Acts 15:1-2?
A1: Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching that unless one is circumcised according to the custom of Moses, he cannot be saved. This led to a dispute and debate with Paul and Barnabas.
Acts 15:3-4
Q2: How did the church in Antioch decide to handle the dispute, and who were selected to go to Jerusalem, as mentioned in Acts 15:3-4?
A2: The church in Antioch decided to send Paul and Barnabas, along with others, to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles and elders.
Acts 15:5
Q3: What did some believers of the party of the Pharisees insist on, as mentioned in Acts 15:5?
A3: Some believers of the party of the Pharisees insisted that the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 15:6-11
Q4: How did the apostles and elders in Jerusalem address the matter, and what did Peter emphasize in Acts 15:6-11?
A4: The apostles and elders gathered to consider the matter. Peter addressed them, emphasizing that God had chosen to include the Gentiles in His plan of salvation by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to the Jews, making no distinction between them.
Acts 15:12-21
Q5: Who else spoke at the council in Jerusalem, and what decision was reached regarding the Gentile believers, as mentioned in Acts 15:12-21?
A5: Barnabas and Paul also spoke. James, the brother of Jesus, proposed that the Gentiles should not be burdened with unnecessary requirements but should abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:22-29
Q6: What did the apostles and elders decide to do, and what letter did they send with Paul and Barnabas to the Gentile believers, as mentioned in Acts 15:22-29?
A6: The apostles, elders, and the whole church decided to send Judas and Silas with Paul and Barnabas. They sent a letter to the Gentile believers, stating that they should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.
Acts 15:30-35
Q7: How did the people in Antioch respond to the letter from the council in Jerusalem, and what did Paul and Barnabas do afterward, as mentioned in Acts 15:30-35?
A7: The people in Antioch were glad for the encouragement. Judas and Silas, being prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. After spending some time in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas were sent back in peace to those who had sent them.
Acts 15:36-41
Q8: What disagreement arose between Paul and Barnabas, and how did it affect their missionary journeys, as mentioned in Acts 15:36-41?
A8: A disagreement arose between Paul and Barnabas over whether to take John Mark with them on their journey. As a result, Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.