12. “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.”
Peter had just reminded the Jewish believers of Israel’s failure in keeping the law (vss. 7-11). Now Barnabas and Paul, rather than continuing to remind them of their failures, turn their thoughts to the blessings and efficacy of God’s sovereign grace.
13. “And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me.”
Beautiful spirit on the part of James! He was perhaps the most influential brother in the assembly at Jerusalem. Yet he does not interrupt the others, demanding to be heard first. Instead, humbly waiting until the others had finished, he then gives his mind.
14-15. “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.”
All that was spoken must be judged by the Word of God. It didn’t matter what one even so prominent as the Apostle Peter might say concerning God’s blessing reaching out to the Gentiles. It was James, perhaps the most ardent Jewish apostle, who submits to Scripture, laying aside personal feelings.
16-17. “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.”
18. “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.”
It is lovely to see how James takes the Jewish believers beyond their understanding and rests in the infinite wisdom of God. How important that we, as believers, ever rest in God’s wisdom rather than our understanding in every circumstance of our life.
19-20. “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.”
Each believer must live up to the light of truth he has received, while not demanding that others do so (troubling one for whom Christ died).
There are, however, things that are fundamental to the doctrine of Christianity. These must always be insisted upon—such are the four things James notes.
21. “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”
While James did not impose Jewish exercises on the Gentile conscience, neither did he deny the honest exercise of Jewish believers. Their consciences would have been troubled by completely doing away with the synagogues and the sabbath.
22. “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.”
The apostles and elders were given (by the ascended Lord Jesus) a place of special care over His assembly. But the church (assembly) was in happy fellowship with their guidance and decisions.
Today the assembly does not have apostles or officially appointed overseers. But it is important that believers happily submit to the apostles’ doctrine (found specially in the epistles) for Christian doctrine and practice and seek to obey those who morally are shepherds and guides (Heb. 13:1717Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)).
We also see a beautiful expression of unity expressed by the assembly in Jerusalem with the Gentile assembly in Antioch. Brethren from Jerusalem are sent back to Antioch with Paul and Silas in order to express this oneness in the Lord and to bear witness to the communications which they carried.
23. “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.”
Marvelous grace of God—the letters are addressed to the brethren! The Jewish assembly in Jerusalem thus expresses complete unity with the Gentile assembly in Antioch, as well as Gentile believers nearby. The salutation is a proof that those in Jerusalem now fully accepted that the grace of God had reached beyond the nation of Israel.
How sweet to find those believers with whom we can express fellowship and unity simply as members of the body of Christ.
24. “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.”
The apostles, elders and assembly’s gracious communication to the saints in Antioch provides vitally important principles for guiding communications between assemblies today.
(1) Paul and Barnabas’ testimony was accepted as adequate witness (“we have heard”).
(2) They displayed full fellowship as members one of another (“went out from us”).
(3) They expressed genuine concern for the brethren in Antioch (“subverting your souls”).
(4) They gave clear, immediate apostolic judgment (“to whom we gave no such commandment”) in order that the believers in Antioch might continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.
25. “It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.”
Here are some more necessary principles for interaction between assemblies!
(1) The assembly displays unity. They have endeavored to keep the unity of the Spirit.
(2) Though the apostles and their direct representatives (see Titus) had authority to make official appointments, the whole assembly as gathered together (guided by the apostles’ doctrine) chose men according to moral power (chief men among the brethren).
26. “Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
How much we need to follow the example of the apostles in this verse! They willingly and rightly recognized and appreciated the ministry of others.
However, they valued what they had done for the Lord, not how it had been done. That would have made Paul and Barnabas the focus of attention rather than the Lord Jesus.
27. “We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.”
The letter served as one witness and the words of Judas and Silas (Jewish brethren) served as a second. In perilous times we must ever act on this principle.
Ed.