And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
The apostles and elders gathered at Jerusalem to decide whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and keep the whole ceremonial law in order to be saved and admitted to the church. The meeting was called because Jewish believers from Judea had pressed that requirement at Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas opposed it, and the church there sent delegates to Jerusalem for a final decision that all would accept. Those who met were the apostles and elders as counselors rather than rulers, joined by leading teachers and delegates from different churches, to deliberate together with enlightened judgment rather than claim infallibility. God had already answered the question by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, so their work was to follow that guidance with wisdom and sanctified judgment set free from prejudice. They decided that Gentiles were free from circumcision and the obligatory keeping of the ceremonial law, and that Spirit-sanctioned decree was generally accepted by the churches and brought lasting settlement and comfort to Gentile believers.
Context and Dispute
Paul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch in Syria, the church from which they had been sent out, and gathered the believers to report how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. That church at Antioch was large and growing, made up of many classes of people from among both Jews and Gentiles, and stood as one of the most important groups of Christian believers and a center of missionary activity. It was while the apostles were united there with ministers and lay members in earnest effort to win souls to Christ that the question demanding consideration in Acts 15:6 was forced upon them.
The matter to be considered was whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and keep the entire ceremonial law in order to be saved. That requirement embraced Jewish customs and Mosaic ordinances, and the issue was whether keeping them was obligatory for Gentiles and necessary for admission to the church. The dispute over circumcision and the law of Moses was the question the apostles and elders gathered to settle.
Certain Jewish believers from Judea, of the sect of the Pharisees, asserted that requirement with great assurance at Antioch. Many of the believing Jews of Antioch favored the position of those brethren from Judea. Paul and Barnabas promptly met the false doctrine and opposed bringing it to the Gentiles. Their stand produced widespread controversy in the church and consternation to the believing Gentiles. The deliberation took place amid strong resistance from Jewish Christians who valued those ceremonial customs and viewed Paul's teaching about the obligations of the Jewish law with disfavor, jealousy, and suspicion that it weakened those obligations.
Because the serious disagreement threatened division in the church, the church at Antioch sent delegates to seek a decision from the responsible leaders at Jerusalem. Controversy over the issue was to stop until the apostles and elders made a final decision. That decision the churches were expected to accept.
The difference of understanding arose for a short time after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, when union otherwise prevailed and believers were all of one heart and one mind. It concerned whether admission to the church should be granted to uncircumcised Gentiles. The difference was short-lived and was soon settled. Yet the question appeared extremely difficult, and the prosperity and even the existence of the Christian church depended on its decision.
Deliberation and Decision
The gathering was of apostles and elders acting as counselors rather than rulers, joined by leading teachers and delegates from different places, including leaders from Jerusalem and representatives from Antioch and other influential churches. The leading apostles first discussed the issue privately and then brought it before the council. It was the apostles and elders who framed and issued the decision as a decree and address to the churches, rather than the entire body of Christians deciding by vote.
Their meeting together to deliberate illustrates New Testament church order, in which leaders confer together rather than assuming authority to command God's workers. They did not claim infallibility for their decision-making, but acted with enlightened judgment as a church established by God's will.
God had already answered the question by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, so the leaders' duty was to follow the Spirit's guidance. As Paul related his conversion and God's work among the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit bore witness to his account and message. By grace, wisdom, and sanctified judgment the apostles were enabled to set aside prejudice, agree with Paul's position, and decide the matter.
The council carefully considered questions about methods, customs, and work among the Gentiles, including circumcision. It decided that Gentile converts were free from circumcision and from obligatory keeping of the ceremonial law, while Jewish converts could observe the Mosaic ordinances if they chose. That decision was sent as a decree and address to the churches, commending Barnabas and Paul as worthy of believers' confidence, acknowledging Paul's commission to preach to the Gentiles, and receiving him as a fellow worker of equal standing.
The council's authority was recognized, controversy was to stop until its final decision, and the churches were expected to accept it. Its decision had been sanctioned by the Holy Spirit, remained in force, and was generally accepted by the churches, bringing a lasting settlement and consolation to Gentile believers. Paul complied with its decisions in his work, and some who had criticized his methods came to a broader view of God's purpose and joined in decisions that united believers. Through divine illumination believers were perfectly joined in the same mind and judgment, proving that harmony and oneness with peace come in proportion to receiving the Spirit.
The decision did not end all disagreement. Some remained zealous for the ceremonial law, resisted out of suspicion and jealousy toward Paul, and sought to undermine the experienced leaders. Teachers who urged the requirement on the Galatians were disregarding that decision. Advice later given to Paul that was not consistent with it was not prompted by the Spirit.
The apostles and elders gathered at Jerusalem to decide whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and keep the whole ceremonial law in order to be saved and admitted to the church. The meeting was called because Jewish believers from Judea had pressed that requirement at Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas opposed it, and the church there sent delegates to Jerusalem for a final decision that all would accept. Those who met were the apostles and elders as counselors rather than rulers, joined by leading teachers and delegates from different churches, to deliberate together with enlightened judgment rather than claim infallibility. God had already answered the question by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, so their work was to follow that guidance with wisdom and sanctified judgment set free from prejudice. They decided that Gentiles were free from circumcision and the obligatory keeping of the ceremonial law, and that Spirit-sanctioned decree was generally accepted by the churches and brought lasting settlement and comfort to Gentile believers.
Context and Dispute
Paul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch in Syria, the church from which they had been sent out, and gathered the believers to report how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. That church at Antioch was large and growing, made up of many classes of people from among both Jews and Gentiles, and stood as one of the most important groups of Christian believers and a center of missionary activity. It was while the apostles were united there with ministers and lay members in earnest effort to win souls to Christ that the question demanding consideration in Acts 15:6 was forced upon them.
The matter to be considered was whether Gentile converts had to be circumcised and keep the entire ceremonial law in order to be saved. That requirement embraced Jewish customs and Mosaic ordinances, and the issue was whether keeping them was obligatory for Gentiles and necessary for admission to the church. The dispute over circumcision and the law of Moses was the question the apostles and elders gathered to settle.
Certain Jewish believers from Judea, of the sect of the Pharisees, asserted that requirement with great assurance at Antioch. Many of the believing Jews of Antioch favored the position of those brethren from Judea. Paul and Barnabas promptly met the false doctrine and opposed bringing it to the Gentiles. Their stand produced widespread controversy in the church and consternation to the believing Gentiles. The deliberation took place amid strong resistance from Jewish Christians who valued those ceremonial customs and viewed Paul's teaching about the obligations of the Jewish law with disfavor, jealousy, and suspicion that it weakened those obligations.
Because the serious disagreement threatened division in the church, the church at Antioch sent delegates to seek a decision from the responsible leaders at Jerusalem. Controversy over the issue was to stop until the apostles and elders made a final decision. That decision the churches were expected to accept.
The difference of understanding arose for a short time after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, when union otherwise prevailed and believers were all of one heart and one mind. It concerned whether admission to the church should be granted to uncircumcised Gentiles. The difference was short-lived and was soon settled. Yet the question appeared extremely difficult, and the prosperity and even the existence of the Christian church depended on its decision.
Deliberation and Decision
The gathering was of apostles and elders acting as counselors rather than rulers, joined by leading teachers and delegates from different places, including leaders from Jerusalem and representatives from Antioch and other influential churches. The leading apostles first discussed the issue privately and then brought it before the council. It was the apostles and elders who framed and issued the decision as a decree and address to the churches, rather than the entire body of Christians deciding by vote.
Their meeting together to deliberate illustrates New Testament church order, in which leaders confer together rather than assuming authority to command God's workers. They did not claim infallibility for their decision-making, but acted with enlightened judgment as a church established by God's will.
God had already answered the question by giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, so the leaders' duty was to follow the Spirit's guidance. As Paul related his conversion and God's work among the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit bore witness to his account and message. By grace, wisdom, and sanctified judgment the apostles were enabled to set aside prejudice, agree with Paul's position, and decide the matter.
The council carefully considered questions about methods, customs, and work among the Gentiles, including circumcision. It decided that Gentile converts were free from circumcision and from obligatory keeping of the ceremonial law, while Jewish converts could observe the Mosaic ordinances if they chose. That decision was sent as a decree and address to the churches, commending Barnabas and Paul as worthy of believers' confidence, acknowledging Paul's commission to preach to the Gentiles, and receiving him as a fellow worker of equal standing.
The council's authority was recognized, controversy was to stop until its final decision, and the churches were expected to accept it. Its decision had been sanctioned by the Holy Spirit, remained in force, and was generally accepted by the churches, bringing a lasting settlement and consolation to Gentile believers. Paul complied with its decisions in his work, and some who had criticized his methods came to a broader view of God's purpose and joined in decisions that united believers. Through divine illumination believers were perfectly joined in the same mind and judgment, proving that harmony and oneness with peace come in proportion to receiving the Spirit.
The decision did not end all disagreement. Some remained zealous for the ceremonial law, resisted out of suspicion and jealousy toward Paul, and sought to undermine the experienced leaders. Teachers who urged the requirement on the Galatians were disregarding that decision. Advice later given to Paul that was not consistent with it was not prompted by the Spirit.