Acts 15: Conflict over Circumcision
1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Paul and Barnabas taught the Scriptures and lifted up Jesus as the Messiah of the world. And they administered the sacrament of baptism to anyone with ears to hear. But then came a group of these Jews representing a sect of Christian Pharisees who had formed in the church in Jerusalem. They came “perhaps to supply what they thought Paul and Barnabas had omitted,” (Wesley), saying that unless you are circumcised, which makes you debtors to keep the whole law of Moses (Gal 5:3), you cannot be saved. But the two did not believe it. So they all agreed that they would take the question to the church in Jerusalem.
“For a little time the noise of controversy ceases. Paul and Barnabas might have taken a much shorter way to Jerusalem; but Paul, like the Master, always wished to do some work on the way. When Christ was apparently hastening to a particular locality, He would often on the road stop to do some intermediate miracle. So Paul said, ‘We will make this a missionary journey.’ So they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria--the district where Philip had done his wonderful works.” (J. Parker, D. D.) The stories of their successes brought joy to the hearers along the way to Jerusalem, as well as among the the welcoming party at Jerusalem. But some of the Pharisees who believed— those like Paul, but with a lessor personal revelation of Jesus- solemnly repeat the message of the requirement of circumcision sent to Antioch. And they add what is a logical expansion of the message of circumcision— that you must keep the law of Moses— “the whole law, both moral and ritual.” (John Wesley).
The Law of Moses— “the is the whole body of the Mosaic legislation ( 1 Kings 2:3 ; 2 Kings 23:25 ; Ezra 3:2 ). It is called by way of eminence simply ‘the Law’ (Heb. Torah, Deuteronomy 1:5 ; Deuteronomy 4:8 Deuteronomy 4:44 ; Deuteronomy 17:18 Deuteronomy 17:19 ; Deuteronomy 27:3 Deuteronomy 27:8 ).” (Easton's Bible Dictionary) Within the large body of literature there is the ritual or ceremonial law concerns the tabernacle and all its services, as well as the moral code of the Ten Commandments, which Christ helps us to obey by faith in Him.
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
The seal of the Holy Spirit is promised upon repentance and baptism by faith in Jesus (Acts 2:38). But in the case of Cornelius, the Spirit came first, as on the first Pentecost (Acts 10:44-48). So, Peter’s argument is “they ‘have received the Holy Ghost as well as we,’ ‘who was I, that I could withstand God?’.” (Alexander MacLaren)
As far as the moral code is concerned, God- by His Spirit- will “purify their hearts by faith” just as he was doing with the apostles and the other Jewish disciples. Who were they to put a yoke on gentile believers that none of them, nor their fathers, could bear? We are all saved in this same manner.
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
It is significant that Barnabas and Paul “did not broach the question in debate, but told the story of the success of their mission. That was the best argument for receiving Gentile converts without circumcision. God had received them; should not the Church do so? Facts are stronger than theories.” (Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture)
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 'After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up;17 so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’ [Amos 9:11-12] 18 Known to God from eternity are all His works.19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual fornication, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
James agreed. As Simon Peter had stated, God had visited the Gentiles "to take out of them a people for his name." "This was the usual Old Testament word designating Israel as the true people of God. The Gentiles were now included in this people. The 'rebuilding of the tabernacle of David' [spoken of by the prophet Amos] must therefore refer to the salvation of the Jewish remnant, 'the Israel within Israel' (Romans 9:8; 11:1-5)." (Coffman Commentary) The true tabernacle is a spiritual one. So, as it was in the days of Moses, let them read Scriptures in every city, lifting up Jesus, only staying away from pagan religious festivals. This is represented by the command “to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood...", “from sacrifices, or from feasts which were kept in idol's temples." (Geneva Study Bible)
Acts 15:22–35 "Then after the results of the council and the decision concerning the Gentiles had been made known by a letter, Antioch received consolation." (Gaebelein) Prophets from the mother church, namely Judas and Silas, also extorted and strengthened the missionary workers.
Acts 15: Division over John Mark
36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”
"Congregations or churches easily degenerate unless they are diligently watched over, and therefore these apostles went to oversee the churches they had planted, and for this reason also synods were instituted and appointed." (Geneva Study Bible)
37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
"Mark was the young man who had defected from the first journey at Perga." (Charles Box) "A lamentable example of discord between excellent men and very great friends, yet not because of profane matters or their own private affairs, neither yet because of doctrine." (Geneva Study Bible) The controversy over circumcision revealed unity of doctrine among the apostles.
39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
As Barnabas was the encourager, the Spirit caused him to side with Mark. He likely helped to restored him to service- 2 Timothy 4:11, ministering to his needs. The Scriptures are silent about their journey. Yet Paul and Silas continue the work, "confirming the churches; strengthening and establishing them in the faith and practice of the gospel." (Justin Edwards)
"O how mighty is the grace of God! which in the midst of the world, in the midst of sin, among so many snares of Satan, and in spite of the incredible weakness and depravity of nature, yet overcomes all opposition, sanctifies, sustains, and preserves us to the end!" (John Wesley) “… yet we have to take heed, even in the best matters, that we do not let our anger overflow." (Geneva Study Bible)