And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
The setting is the church at Antioch, a large and growing community of Jewish and Gentile believers and a center of missionary activity, where the report had gone out that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. The background dispute was whether Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, the entire ceremonial law, in order to be saved, a teaching that Paul and Barnabas opposed. That dispute was addressed by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem acting as counselors, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to guide the decision.
At the council the Spirit of the Lord bore witness to Paul's account of his conversion and his work among the Gentiles. Under the Spirit's influence the council set aside prejudice and agreed with Paul's position. That agreement was then sent to the churches in an address expressing it. The council's decision concerning Gentile converts and the ceremonial law had been sanctioned by the Holy Spirit and remained in force.
As part of this New Testament account of church order, the verse describes Judas and Silas as prophets who strengthened fellow believers through exhortation and confirmation. In Antioch they strengthened the believers with many words of exhortation and confirmation, and their ministry helped give confidence to Gentile believers after the council's decisions. Silas named here was a tried worker gifted with the spirit of prophecy. The Gentile believers rejoiced at the consolation brought by the resolution.
The setting is the church at Antioch, a large and growing community of Jewish and Gentile believers and a center of missionary activity, where the report had gone out that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. The background dispute was whether Gentile believers had to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, the entire ceremonial law, in order to be saved, a teaching that Paul and Barnabas opposed. That dispute was addressed by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem acting as counselors, leaving room for the Holy Spirit to guide the decision.
At the council the Spirit of the Lord bore witness to Paul's account of his conversion and his work among the Gentiles. Under the Spirit's influence the council set aside prejudice and agreed with Paul's position. That agreement was then sent to the churches in an address expressing it. The council's decision concerning Gentile converts and the ceremonial law had been sanctioned by the Holy Spirit and remained in force.
As part of this New Testament account of church order, the verse describes Judas and Silas as prophets who strengthened fellow believers through exhortation and confirmation. In Antioch they strengthened the believers with many words of exhortation and confirmation, and their ministry helped give confidence to Gentile believers after the council's decisions. Silas named here was a tried worker gifted with the spirit of prophecy. The Gentile believers rejoiced at the consolation brought by the resolution.