When therefore Paul and Barnabas
Who were the ministers of the uncircumcision, and were just
returned from preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles, with
success, and were advocates for them, being witnesses of the
grace that was bestowed on them, and therefore opposed the
sentiments of these men:
and had no small dissension and disputation with
them;
which was attended with much heat and sharpness, and continued
some time, and occasioned much disturbance and uneasiness; nor
could the affair be decided and issued: wherefore
they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other
of them;
that is, the members of the church at Antioch, taking this matter
into consideration, and finding that the difference could not be
composed, for the peace of the church, wisely came to a
resolution, and made an order, that Paul and Barnabas, with
others, as Titus, who went with Paul at this time, as appears
from ( Galatians
2:1 ) and some others of the brethren, and it may be also
certain, on, the other side of the question; that these
should go up to Jerusalem, unto the apostles and elders,
about this
question;
concerning circumcision, and the necessity of it to salvation,
that they might have the sense of James, and Peter, and John, who
particularly were at Jerusalem at this time, as appears from (
Acts 15:7 ) (
Galatians
2:9 ) and other apostles that might be there; and also of
other ministers of the word, who are called elders. And the
church of Jerusalem being the most ancient church, and several of
the apostles residing here, who had seen Christ in the flesh, and
had received their mission and commission from him, and had been
extraordinarily endowed with the Holy Ghost; and here being many
other preachers of the Gospel, and there being in a multitude of
counsellors safety, the church at Antioch judged it advisable to
send to them for counsel and direction; and it becomes churches
to assist each other in this way.
