Acts 15 Footnotes

15:1 After Paul reported God’s blessing on Gentile evangelization (14:27), some came from Judea, teaching that becoming a Christian required circumcision. These were likely people without direct or official authorization. Their actions prompted a meeting in Jerusalem with the apostles, who appeared unaware of the controversy.

15:2 Though some doubt the historicity of this Jerusalem meeting, the conditions depicted suggest otherwise. (1) These issues had already been raised regarding the conversion of Jews and then Gentiles in the early church. (2) The response Paul and Barnabas elicited on their first journey. (3) Though shifting the missionary center from Jerusalem to Antioch, Jerusalem remained the mother church, as Paul indicated in his later visit (chap. 21).

15:5-6 The central issue was whether Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Mosaic law, essentially becoming Jewish, before they could become Christians: the first Christians (and Jesus) were Jews, and Jews first evangelized Gentiles. However, faith in Christ was the common criterion for salvation: Peter witnessed Gentile conversion by faith (vv. 7-11); Paul and Barnabas concurred (v. 12); James noted OT precedent (vv. 16-18, citing Am 9:11-12).

15:20 Although salvation for all is by faith (v. 19), restrictions were introduced (v. 29; 21:25) either to provide Christian Jews and Gentiles with a common basis for contact or, more likely, to lift up Gentile moral standards by prohibiting practices (idolatry, sexual immorality, and animal sacrifices) associated with pagan temple worship.

15:28 Luke underscored the apostles’ recognition of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and human initiative in arriving at this important decision. Throughout the NT, there is a complex interplay of divine guidance working together with human action that accomplished God’s purpose. The interplay is harmonious when humans (as here) humbly and trustingly respond to the Spirit’s guidance.

15:36-40 This marks Paul’s second missionary journey, which followed his parting with Barnabas over taking John Mark (13:13). Paul took Silas, who had helped take the Jerusalem letter to Antioch (vv. 23-29). Paul later reconciled with John Mark (Col 4:10; Phm 24; 2Tm 4:11).