We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Judas and Silas were sent with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to confirm in person by word of mouth the same things contained in the council's letter, giving the churches an oral witness alongside the written address. Their spoken message affirmed that the apostles had not authorized those who demanded circumcision, and that Gentile converts were to observe only the stated necessary requirements. The decision they confirmed left Gentile Christians free from circumcision and the ordinances of Moses as a condition of salvation and church fellowship, while still instructing them to avoid food offered to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. The dispute was settled as the apostles and elders acted as counselors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who gave them grace, wisdom, and sound judgment, and the decree they framed was generally accepted by the churches and ended the controversy at Antioch.
Dispute and Council Decision
The verse belongs to the settlement at Jerusalem of whether Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the ceremonial law and the law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas opposed imposing those requirements on the Gentiles. That council became Paul's defense of Christianity against the narrow restrictions of Judaism, both at Jerusalem and at Antioch.
The council left Gentile Christians free from circumcision and the Mosaic ordinances. It rejected making circumcision a condition for joining the church or for sharing in God's promises. Jewish Christians could still observe those ordinances if they chose, but they were not binding on Gentile Christians.
Gentile believers were still instructed to avoid food offered to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. That decision on Gentile converts remained in force, while not requiring them to keep the ceremonial law.
The council's leaders reached agreement on recommendations for the churches. They accepted Paul's position on the Gentiles, affirmed the gospel work among the Gentiles, and were led to set aside prejudice against it. They commended Barnabas and Paul as worthy of believers' confidence.
Messengers Confirming Decision
Judas and Silas were sent with Paul and Barnabas to confirm the council's message to the Gentile believers in person as well as by letter. They were to declare by word of mouth the same things given in the letter, giving the churches an oral witness alongside the written address. Their spoken testimony affirmed that the apostles had not authorized those who demanded circumcision. Gentile converts were to observe only the stated necessary requirements imposed by the council.
The four messengers brought the letter and message to Antioch, ending the controversy. The council's decisions were acknowledged as authoritative, and Paul followed them in his work among the Gentiles. Peter later acted according to that decision when he first ate with Gentile converts.
Spirit Guidance and Reception
The dispute was settled at Jerusalem as the apostles and elders acted as counselors and allowed the Holy Spirit to guide the decision. The question before the council had in fact already been settled by the Holy Spirit, who gave the apostles grace, wisdom and sound judgment to decide it. Church organization and order are set forth in the New Testament for the unity and perfection of the church. Church officers are leaders, advisers, counselors and helpers, but are not given authority to command the Lord's laborers, so responsibility and authority should remain within the bounds God has appointed.
The apostles and elders recognized the Spirit's guidance and then framed and issued a decree. That decree was generally accepted by the Christian churches. The decision was nevertheless not willingly or readily accepted by all. Some ambitious, self-confident believers opposed it, worked to undermine those appointed to teach the gospel and Christ's doctrine, and promoted their own plans because they remained zealous for the Jewish ceremonial law.
Some Jewish Christians remained zealous for the ceremonial law and viewed Paul with disfavor and jealousy because they thought his teaching and principles made the obligations of Jewish law too lax and relaxed its obligations. The decision had rejected the demand that Gentile converts keep the ceremonial law, but false teachers from Jerusalem later urged that demand on the Galatian believers and ignored the council's ruling. The council's decision concerning Gentile converts and the ceremonial law remained in force, while the later advice given to Paul was inconsistent with that decision and was not prompted by the Holy Spirit.
The difference over circumcision and whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be granted admission to the church was short-lived and soon settled. Through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, all of one heart and one mind. They believed and spoke the same things. Such unity after the resurrection and ascension of Christ is the fruit always borne under the Holy Spirit's influence and fulfills Christ's prayer that His people be one.
Judas and Silas were sent with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to confirm in person by word of mouth the same things contained in the council's letter, giving the churches an oral witness alongside the written address. Their spoken message affirmed that the apostles had not authorized those who demanded circumcision, and that Gentile converts were to observe only the stated necessary requirements. The decision they confirmed left Gentile Christians free from circumcision and the ordinances of Moses as a condition of salvation and church fellowship, while still instructing them to avoid food offered to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. The dispute was settled as the apostles and elders acted as counselors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who gave them grace, wisdom, and sound judgment, and the decree they framed was generally accepted by the churches and ended the controversy at Antioch.
Dispute and Council Decision
The verse belongs to the settlement at Jerusalem of whether Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the ceremonial law and the law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas opposed imposing those requirements on the Gentiles. That council became Paul's defense of Christianity against the narrow restrictions of Judaism, both at Jerusalem and at Antioch.
The council left Gentile Christians free from circumcision and the Mosaic ordinances. It rejected making circumcision a condition for joining the church or for sharing in God's promises. Jewish Christians could still observe those ordinances if they chose, but they were not binding on Gentile Christians.
Gentile believers were still instructed to avoid food offered to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. That decision on Gentile converts remained in force, while not requiring them to keep the ceremonial law.
The council's leaders reached agreement on recommendations for the churches. They accepted Paul's position on the Gentiles, affirmed the gospel work among the Gentiles, and were led to set aside prejudice against it. They commended Barnabas and Paul as worthy of believers' confidence.
Messengers Confirming Decision
Judas and Silas were sent with Paul and Barnabas to confirm the council's message to the Gentile believers in person as well as by letter. They were to declare by word of mouth the same things given in the letter, giving the churches an oral witness alongside the written address. Their spoken testimony affirmed that the apostles had not authorized those who demanded circumcision. Gentile converts were to observe only the stated necessary requirements imposed by the council.
The four messengers brought the letter and message to Antioch, ending the controversy. The council's decisions were acknowledged as authoritative, and Paul followed them in his work among the Gentiles. Peter later acted according to that decision when he first ate with Gentile converts.
Spirit Guidance and Reception
The dispute was settled at Jerusalem as the apostles and elders acted as counselors and allowed the Holy Spirit to guide the decision. The question before the council had in fact already been settled by the Holy Spirit, who gave the apostles grace, wisdom and sound judgment to decide it. Church organization and order are set forth in the New Testament for the unity and perfection of the church. Church officers are leaders, advisers, counselors and helpers, but are not given authority to command the Lord's laborers, so responsibility and authority should remain within the bounds God has appointed.
The apostles and elders recognized the Spirit's guidance and then framed and issued a decree. That decree was generally accepted by the Christian churches. The decision was nevertheless not willingly or readily accepted by all. Some ambitious, self-confident believers opposed it, worked to undermine those appointed to teach the gospel and Christ's doctrine, and promoted their own plans because they remained zealous for the Jewish ceremonial law.
Some Jewish Christians remained zealous for the ceremonial law and viewed Paul with disfavor and jealousy because they thought his teaching and principles made the obligations of Jewish law too lax and relaxed its obligations. The decision had rejected the demand that Gentile converts keep the ceremonial law, but false teachers from Jerusalem later urged that demand on the Galatian believers and ignored the council's ruling. The council's decision concerning Gentile converts and the ceremonial law remained in force, while the later advice given to Paul was inconsistent with that decision and was not prompted by the Holy Spirit.
The difference over circumcision and whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be granted admission to the church was short-lived and soon settled. Through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, all of one heart and one mind. They believed and spoke the same things. Such unity after the resurrection and ascension of Christ is the fruit always borne under the Holy Spirit's influence and fulfills Christ's prayer that His people be one.