The devil never leaves God’s work in peace. In an assembly in Antioch, there were “a great number” of Greek believers — more than Jewish believers (Chap. 11:20-21). Some arrived from Jerusalem, the religious stronghold of Judaism, who (not called “brothers”) wanted to subject the Gentiles (converted to God) to circumcision (to read about the institution of it, see Genesis, chapter 17:10-14). To force this rite on the Christians for their salvation would have been to negate the effectiveness of the redeeming work of Christ. No one can add anything to this work, since it was consummately thorough and perfect, making the sinner suitable and holy to enter into the presence of God.
It was not possible to stop the mouths of the enemies of the truth in Antioch. God permitted it to be this way, so that it would be necessary to resolve the grave difficulty in Jerusalem, from which the teachers with bad doctrine came, and in which the apostles who were not scattered by persecution could be found (see Acts 8:11And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. (Acts 8:1)).
Note that, on the way, the apostles did not worry the believers’ minds with the difficulty that saddened their spirits, but rather with the happy news of the pagans’ conversion: “as sorrowful, but always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:1010As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (2 Corinthians 6:10)).
Note the order here: “they were received (1) of the church, (2) and of the apostles (3) and elders.” The church, the Christian assembly in every place, is the one that receives — as authorized by the Lord according to His word: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)).
Satan’s agents did not delay in raising up opposition to the truth of the gospel. So, it was necessary that they then deal with the matter that was laid out.
When difficulties are presented, especially in serious matters, women and youths should not take part in the discussion. On the contrary, it is the duty of the elders in the assembly, and — in the case of Jerusalem — of course, the apostles as well.
“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” (Acts 15:7-117And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:7‑11)).
Those that oppose the truth always cause disputes with their false arguments. When the Pharisees stopped talking, then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, could give a final exposition about law and grace. God had given the Holy Spirit to the converted Gentiles just as He had given it to the converted Jews, purifying their hearts. Not with rites and ceremonies from the law of Moses, but rather with faith. Then, why try to impose the law as a burden for the Gentiles when they — the Jews — had not been able to bear it? Rather — concluded Peter — they, the Jews, would be saved just as the Gentiles were: by the grace of the Lord Jesus.
“Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them” (Acts 15:1212Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. (Acts 15:12)). Another confirming and admirable testimony of two more apostles — Paul and Barnabas — was added to the Apostle Peter’s declaration.
“And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom My name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:13-1813And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:13‑18)).
James appealed to the Scriptures of the Old Testament to show that God, since the beginning, had planned to take a people for His name from the Gentiles — or rather those that are not the Jews — quoting the testimony of it from the prophet Amos (Chap. 9:11). Before Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and James’ true and clear testimonies, backed up by the Sacred Scriptures, the Judaizing Pharisee’s mouths were shut. It was then time to express a conclusive spiritual judgment, which James could give:
“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day” (Acts 15:19-2119Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. (Acts 15:19‑21)).
Those sins and evil practices characterized the Gentiles. It was necessary to abstain from them — not because the law of Moses prohibited them, but because they were contrary to the will of the living and true God from the beginning. To make and worship idols is to deny that there is one living God. Fornication is to deny that God made man and woman “one flesh” (Gen. 2:2424Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)). To eat “things strangled, and from blood” is to deny that life belongs to God — man lost the right to said life when he sinned: “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat” (Gen. 9:44But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. (Genesis 9:4)). That is why these principles from the word and will of God were established centuries before the law of Moses was placed on the Israelites. Every Christian, therefore, should respect these principles in their daily lives.
“Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well” (Acts 15:22-2922Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:22‑29)).
We see that the decision, or rather the conclusion, was by the whole church as much as by the apostles and elders. It was not one of the leaders, much less one leader that was over the entire church and did not allow it any voice in the Lord’s matters. The letter communicating their decision was written in the name of “the apostles and the elders and the brethren.” Those from Jerusalem recognized that those who had worried the Gentile brothers came from Jerusalem, but they clarified that the church itself had not sent them. Of Paul and Barnabas, they wrote that they were “beloved” and “Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” — something that made them stand out among the unbelieving Jews and pagans.
They sent two chief men with the apostles, Judas and Silas, so that the written message would be backed up by the word of those they sent. They advised the Gentile believers that they only needed to abstain from “necessary things” prohibited centuries before the law of Moses was placed on the Israelites.
“So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them” (Acts 15:30-3230So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. (Acts 15:30‑32)).
And so, the truth triumphed, the devil was defeated, and the believers were comforted and built up in the most holy faith. Judas and Silas, being gifted as “prophets” by the Lord Jesus, the head of the church, of their own initiative stayed with the assembly of Antioch and ministered the word for the “edification, exhortation and consolation.” They did not depend on Jerusalem for this.
Silas, having finished the charge from the Jerusalem assembly along with Judas, felt directed by the Holy Spirit to stay in the assembly at Antioch.
“Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus” (Acts 15:35-3935Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; (Acts 15:35‑39)).
Paul, with a “pastor’s” heart suggested to Barnabas that they return to visit the brothers in the different places where they had preached the gospel. But Barnabas wanted to take John with him. Paul did not want to because John Mark had gone back to his mother’s house (Mary), in Jerusalem (Acts 12:1212And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. (Acts 12:12) and 13:13), abandoning the apostles in their first missionary journey. Then the two apostles left each other. How sad! Even if he is an apostle, a man is still a man. Barnabas and John Mark left, without the right hand of fellowship from their brothers in Christ. They sailed to Cyprus, the birthplace of Barnabas, John Mark being his cousin (Acts 4:3636And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, (Acts 4:36); Col. 4:1010Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) (Colossians 4:10)).
The Lord had foreseen Barnabas’ wrong intent and provided Paul with a fellow soldier, Silas. He left with Silas, and with the right hand of fellowship of the brothers of Antioch. They visited, in consecutive order, the churches, confirming the disciples — an urgent spiritual necessity of new believers.