Acts 15:17, commentary and pictures

That the residue of men and all the Gentiles may seek the Lord and are called by His name shows that God includes people from the nations as well as Israel in those who may seek Him and share in the privileges of His people. The promises and salvation are not reserved for the Hebrews, for Gentile converts are admitted to Christ's church and belong to God and His people. They do not have to be circumcised or keep the whole ceremonial law or adopt Jewish ceremonies and traditions to be saved and to belong and have fellowship, and they are not to be burdened with them. The saying belongs to the Jerusalem council's settling of the dispute over circumcision and the law of Moses and whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be admitted and must accept circumcision and the ceremonial law. In that matter the apostles and elders acted as counselors and gave room for the Holy Spirit to judge, and through the Spirit's guidance they recognized God's giving of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles as God's decision, issued a decree that consoled the Gentile believers and united the church in one heart and mind.

Jerusalem Council Setting

Acts 15:17 belongs to the Jerusalem council's handling of the dispute over circumcision and the law of Moses, including whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be admitted to the church and whether converts had to accept circumcision and the ceremonial law. Apart from that brief question the difference was short-lived and quickly settled, and otherwise union prevailed with believers of one heart and one mind. The background was Paul and Barnabas returning to Antioch in Syria to report all God had done with them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, before a large and growing missionary church made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The council heard of God's work among the Gentiles through Paul.

In settling the matter the apostles and elders acted as counselors and gave room for the Holy Spirit to judge. Through the Spirit's guidance they received wisdom and sound judgment on a matter vital to the Christian church. God's giving of the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles was recognized as God's own decision, and the council followed the Spirit's guidance in accepting Gentile believers without requiring them to adopt Jewish ceremonial customs. The council's decision recognized God's work and purpose for the Gentiles and helped unite believers in supporting that work. It recognized Paul's call to carry the truth to the Gentiles just as Peter had a special mission to the Jews, accepted Paul as an equal fellow worker, and moved its members to set aside prejudice and support that work in unity.

The decree was issued by the apostles and elders, was generally accepted, brought consolation to the Gentile believers, and helped settle the disagreement and unite believers. It is included among the New Testament Scriptures that set forth simple church organization and order for the unity and perfection of the church. Through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Holy Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, showing that oneness in understanding truth and in judgment is the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Some Jewish Christians resisted because they remained zealous for the ceremonial law, viewed Paul's teaching as lax, and clung to exclusiveness with jealousy. Jewish prejudices against the work among the Gentiles later had to be faced again. The council's decision remained in force when Paul later went to Jerusalem, and the advice then given to Paul to conform to ceremonial customs was inconsistent with it, prompted not by the Holy Spirit but by fear of persecution from unbelieving Jews.

Gentiles Called by Name

The residue of men and all the Gentiles are included among those who may seek after the Lord and upon whom His name is called. God's purpose embraces people from the nations as well as Israel, and He intended the Gentiles to turn to Him and share in the privileges of His people. The apostolic council's response affirmed that this work among the Gentiles was in harmony with the apostle's position, admitting Gentile converts to Christ's church without circumcision. Jewish prejudices against this inclusion later had to be faced again.

The promises and salvation are not reserved for Hebrews, and the end of Jewish exclusiveness is established. Gentile converts belong to His people and to God, and are admitted to Christ's church. The council heard of God's work among the Gentiles through Paul, and the Spirit moved its members to set aside prejudice and support his work. Jewish Christians who clung to the ceremonial law resisted this change, remaining zealous for that law, viewing Paul's teaching as lax, and looking upon him with jealousy.

Gentiles are not required to be circumcised or to keep the entire ceremonial law as a condition of salvation, fellowship, or belonging to God. They were not required to adopt Jewish ceremonies, traditions, and ceremonial customs, and the council's decision was not to burden them with it. That promise of Gentiles belonging to the Lord is reflected in God's giving them the Holy Spirit, which the council recognized as God's decision while following the Spirit's guidance. The council recognized that God had called Paul to carry the truth to the Gentiles just as Peter had a special mission to the Jews, and accepted Paul as an equal fellow worker. The decree on this was issued by the apostles and elders and was generally accepted.

The Lord calls Gentiles to seek Him in a Christianity freed from narrow Jewish restrictions. That freedom Paul defended at Jerusalem and at Antioch. He then carried it out by preaching the gospel to pagan nations and peoples. That preaching reached slaves, soldiers, and men of rank and station at Rome.