Acts 15
Big idea: The gospel's terms are settled at Jerusalem: salvation is 'through the grace of the Lord Jesus,' for Gentile and Jew alike — no yoke of circumcision, only a few necessary abstentions, written into a letter that lands at Antioch as encouragement and joy.
With the decrees in hand and Silas at his side after the parting from Barnabas, Paul sets out to strengthen the assemblies — a journey the Spirit will redirect, in ch. 16, across the sea into Macedonia.
15:1–5 — The dispute goes up to Jerusalem
Men from Judea teach the Antioch brothers, 'Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can't be saved.' After 'no small discord and discussion,' Paul, Barnabas, and others are appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. Their journey through Phoenicia and Samaria spreads great joy at the Gentiles' conversion — but in Jerusalem, believing Pharisees rise up: circumcise them, and command them to keep the law of Moses.
1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.” 2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. 3 They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
15:6–11 — Peter: saved through grace, just as they are
After much discussion, Peter recalls what God has already done: he chose that by Peter's mouth the nations should hear the Good News and believe; God, who knows the heart, testified about them by giving them the Holy Spirit 'just like he did to us,' cleansing their hearts by faith, making 'no distinction between us and them.' To demand more is to tempt God with a yoke 'which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear.' His conclusion: 'we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.'
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. 7 When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
15:12–21 — Barnabas and Paul's report; James's judgment
The multitude keeps silence for Barnabas and Paul's report of the signs and wonders God did among the nations. Then James gathers the threads: Simeon has told how God first visited the nations 'to take out of them a people for his name,' and this agrees with the words of the prophets — the rebuilt tabernacle of David, 'that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name.' His judgment: don't trouble the Gentiles who turn to God, but write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood — for Moses is read in the synagogues of every city, every Sabbath.
12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. 13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written, 16 ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up 17 that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’ 18 “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity. 19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
15:22–29 — The letter
The verdict becomes a document. The apostles and elders, with the whole assembly, choose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas — chief men among the brothers — to carry a letter with Paul and Barnabas to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. It disowns the troublers ('to whom we gave no commandment'), commends 'our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,' and delivers the ruling in the council's most striking sentence: 'it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things.'
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. 23 They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. 24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; 25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out 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 sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
15:30–35 — Joy at Antioch
Delivered and read at Antioch, the letter produces rejoicing 'over the encouragement.' Judas and Silas, prophets themselves, encourage and strengthen the brothers with many words before being dismissed in peace; Paul and Barnabas stay on, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord 'with many others also.'
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. 33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles. 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
15:36–41 — Paul and Barnabas part
Paul proposes revisiting 'our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.' Barnabas plans to take John called Mark; Paul thinks it not a good idea to take the one who withdrew from them in Pamphylia. The contention grows so sharp that they separate: Barnabas sails to Cyprus with Mark, while Paul chooses Silas and goes out 'commended by the brothers to the grace of God,' strengthening the assemblies through Syria and Cilicia.
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. 38 But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. 39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).