Acts 15:3, commentary and pictures

Paul and Barnabas were brought on their way by the church at Antioch toward Jerusalem to lay the question of circumcision before the apostles and elders, and as they passed through Phenice and Samaria they visited the believers and encouraged them by telling how the Gentiles had turned to the faith, bringing great joy to all the brethren. The journey belonged to a difference over whether uncircumcised Gentiles should be admitted to the church without being circumcised and observing the ceremonial law of Moses. At the council Paul reported his labor and the great work God had wrought through him among the Gentiles, the Spirit witnessed to his word, and the apostles and elders as counselors left room for the Holy Spirit to guide, set aside prejudice, and declared themselves in harmony with his position. The council decided that Gentile converts were left free from circumcision and the obligations of the ceremonial law, a decision sanctioned by the Holy Spirit and remaining in force, and the Gentile believers received it with joy and consolation. Through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, for such unity, peace, and harmony comes only in proportion to receiving the enlightenment of the divine Spirit.

Journey to Jerusalem Council

The church that brought Paul and Barnabas on their way was the church at Antioch in Syria, from which they had been sent forth on their mission. That church was large and growing, a center of missionary activity and one of the most important groups of Christian believers, with membership made up of many classes of people from among both Jews and Gentiles. On reaching Antioch, Paul and Barnabas assembled the believers and rehearsed all that God had done with them and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Paul and Barnabas traveled toward Jerusalem with responsible men from Antioch to lay the question of circumcision before the apostles and elders. Delegates from different churches would meet there, a decision in general council would then be universally accepted by the churches, and all controversy was to cease in the meantime. The church sent them on their way to Jerusalem for this purpose.

On the way through Phenice and Samaria they visited the believers in the cities through which they passed and called upon them along the way. They encouraged them by relating their experience in the work of God and telling how the Gentiles had turned to the faith and come to faith. This news of the conversion of the Gentiles to the faith brought great joy to the brethren, and caused great joy unto all the brethren.

In declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, Paul defended Christianity against the narrow restrictions of Judaism. He did so on the basis of his preaching in Lycaonia, Galatia, Macedonia, Athens, Corinth, Dalmatia, Crete, and Rome, both at Jerusalem and at Antioch. He labored to establish a firmer union between the Greek and Eastern churches he had raised up and to guard them against subtle heresies creeping in to corrupt the faith.

Council Decision and Unity

Acts 15:3 belongs to the account of a short-lived difference of understanding over whether admission to the church should be granted to uncircumcised Gentiles. The question was whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and observe the ceremonial law, the law of Moses and the Mosaic ordinances. Jewish Christians regarded circumcision and observance of the ceremonial law as a test of sincere conversion, fearing that converts who continued immoral practices would disgrace the church. When the gospel was preached after the resurrection and ascension of Christ union had prevailed and the believers were all of one heart and one mind, and this question was soon settled.

At the council Paul reported his own conversion, his labor and its results, and the great work God had wrought through him among the Gentiles. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to his word, the council yielded its prejudices, declared itself in harmony with his position, and sent an address to the churches to that effect. The apostles and elders acted as counselors, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to guide the decision rather than settling the matter by force of authority. Led by the Holy Spirit, the council set aside prejudice and affirmed the work among the Gentiles and the progress of the gospel among them.

The council decided that Gentile converts were left free from circumcision and the obligations of the ceremonial law, while Jewish converts could observe those ordinances if they chose. It made recommendations to the churches concerning Gentile converts and the customs expected of them and affirmed Barnabas and Paul as trustworthy workers among the Gentiles. The Gentile believers received the decision with joy and consolation. The council's decision concerning Gentile converts and the ceremonial law was sanctioned by the Holy Spirit and remained in force. Later advice to conform to the ceremonial law was inconsistent with that decision and did not come from the Spirit, but arose from fear of Jewish hostility and persecution.

That victory was only temporary, for the same battle was to be fought again and the same prejudices met once more. The controversy continued among Jewish Christians who were attached to the ceremonial law and regarded Paul with jealousy, believing his principles were lax toward its obligations, and false teachers later urged Gentile converts to observe it. Through the divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Such unity, peace, and harmony comes only in proportion to illumination and sanctification and receiving the enlightenment of the divine Spirit, and is and always will be the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The chapter containing the verse teaches simple church organization and order ordained for the church's unity and perfection. It supports leadership as service and counsel, not authority to command the Lord's workers.