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Acts 15:22  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 11
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Golden Text.— “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.”—Acts15:22. Read Acts 15:22-3222Then 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. 30So 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 15:22‑32).
The Jerusalem Council
PAUL and Barnabas having returned to Antioch after their first missionary tour, continued there a long time with the disciples, teaching the Word (14:28). While there teachers came from Judaea, who said that the Gentiles could not be saved by faith in Christ unless they were also circumcised. There was so much dissension and disputation about it that the church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas and others to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to lay the matter before them. The council, having heard the whole story and discussed it, came to a decision which they now send to Antioch with these brethren.
23, 24. “Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls.” Behold the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit in this greeting from the believing Jews at Jerusalem, the apostles, the rulers in the church, to the Gentile believers, the uncircumcised at Antioch. Notice that the Jewish brethren send greeting unto the Gentile brethren. They are all brethren in Christ and acknowledge it.
25, 26. “Men that leave hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thus honorably do they mention “our beloved Barnabas and Paul” because of their sufferings for Christ sake. And yet hear Paul say, “None of these things move me,” and “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” and “our light affliction which is but for a moment,” etc. (Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24): Rom. 8:1818For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18): 2 Cor. 4:1717For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2 Corinthians 4:17)), because he believed God.
29. “Abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood wed from things strangled and from fornication, front which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” These the council considered necessary things, but did not say necessary for salvation, rather necessary as an evidence of salvation. There is no salvation by works revealed in the Word of God, but only salvation by the great and finished work of the Lord Jesus, which the sinner must receive as God’s free gift, purchased for him by the precious blood of Christ (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)),
30, 31. “They delivered the epistle, which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.” These were words of comfort instead of the words which had troubled them (verse 24). The Holy Spirit is a Comforter, and when He speaks He brings comfort to the people of God.
32. “Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words and confirmed them.” A true prophet is one who is a spokesman for God. Compare Exod. 7:11And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (Exodus 7:1), and 4:16. God is the Father of Mercies and the God of all comfort, and He comforts us in all our tribulation that we may comfort others in their troubles by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God (2 Cor. 1:3, 43Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3‑4)).
33. “And after they had tarried there a space they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.” It is our privilege to live in peace, the peace of God: to come and go in peace: to have peace always by all means, even perfect peace (Phil, 4:6, 7; 2 Thess. 3:1616Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16); Isa. 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3))