Acts 15:41

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. AND HE WENT THROUGH SYRIA AND CILICIA, CONFIRMING THE CHURCHES (see the note at ) - taking probably the same route as when he was despatched in haste from Jerusalem to Tarsus, when we have reason to think that he went by land (see the note at ). It is very likely (says Howson) that Paul and Barnabas made a deliberate and amicable arrangement to divide the region of their first mission between them-Paul taking the continental, and Barnabas the insular, part of the proposed visitation. If Barnabas visited Salamis and Paphos, and if Paul (traveling westward), after passing through Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, went as far as Antioch in Pisidia, the whole circuit of the proposed visitation was actually a...

36-41 Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, no less than Paul and Barnabas, yet made to end well. Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them. We should suspect ourselves of being partial, and guard against this in putting our relations forward. Paul did not think him worthy of the honour, nor fit for the service, who had departed from them without their knowledge, or without their consent: see ch. Acts 13:13. Neither would yield, therefore there was no remedy but they must part. We see that the best of men are but men, subject to like passions as we are. Perhaps there were faults on both sides, as usual in such contentions. Christ's example alone, is a copy without a blot. Yet we are not to think it strange, if there are differences among wise and good men. It will be so while we are in this imperfect state; we shall never be all of one mind till we come to hea...

Verse Acts 15:41. _CONFIRMING THE CHURCHES._] This was the object of his journey: they were young converts, and had need of establishment; and there is no doubt that, by showing them the decision made at the late council of Jerusalem, their faith was greatly strengthened, their hope confirmed, and their love increased. It was this consideration, no doubt, that led some ancient MSS. and some versions to add here, _They delivered them the decrees of the_ _apostles and elders to keep_; which clause certainly was not an original part of the text, but seems to have been borrowed from the fourth verse of the following chapter. Some have thought that the fourth and fifth verses of the next chapter really belong to this place; or that the first, second, and third verses of it should be read in a parenthesis; but of this there does not appear to be any particular necessity....

SYRIA AND CILICIA - These were countries lying near to each other, which Paul, in company with Barnabas, had before visited. CONFIRMING THE CHURCHES - Strengthening them by instruction and exhortation. It has no reference to the rite of confirmation. See the notes on Acts 14:22. In regard to this unhappy contention between Paul and Barnabas, and their separation from each other, we may make the following remarks: (1) That no apology or vindication of it is offered by the sacred writer. It was undoubtedly improper and evil. It was a melancholy instance in which even apostles evinced an improper spirit, and engaged in improper strife. (2) In this contention it is probable that Paul was, in the main, right. Barnabas

EXPOSITION ACTS 15:1 _Came down … and taught _for _which came down_ …_ taught, _A.V.; _saying _for _and said, _A.V._; custom _(ἔθος) for _manner, _A.V. EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED, etc. The question thus raised nearly effected the disruption of the Church, and was the most serious controversy that had yet arisen. If the views broached by these Judaean Christians had prevailed, the whole character of Christianity would have been changed, and its existence probably cut short. How great the danger was appears from even Peter and Barnabas having wavered in their opinion. (For St. Paul's treatment of the subject, see Romans 2:25, etc.; 4.;...

AND HE WENT THROUGH SYRIA AND CILICIA,.... Antioch was the metropolis of the former, and Tarsus, the apostle's native place, was in the latter; and in both these countries he had been before, and had been the instrument of converting many souls, and of planting churches, which he now visited, as he proposed to Barnabas to do: for it follows, CONFIRMING THE CHURCHES; in the Gospel, and the truths and ordinances of it, he had before instructed them in: of the church at Antioch, Acts 11:26. And that there were also churches in Cilicia, is very manifest; and particularly there was one at Tarsus, the chief city in it. Herodian, of whom we read in Romans 16:11 and Jason, in Acts 17:5 who are reckoned among the seventy d

ACTS 15:41 ta.j evkklhsi,aj {A} At the close of the verse codex Bezae adds the supplementary clause paradidou.j ta.j evntola.j tw/n presbute,rwn (“delivering [to them] the commands of the elders”). This is expanded still further in syrhmg, with support from several Latin Vulgate manuscripts, “… commands of the _apostles and_ elders.” Both additions, which contribute nothing new, make quite explicit what anyone could deduce from the previous narrative and what is expressly stated in Acts 16:4....

CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The false teachers from Judea. Paul and Barnabas sent to Jerusalem (Acts 15:1)._ 2. The Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:6). 3. The Result made known (Acts 15:22). 4. The Consolation brought to Antioch (Acts 15:30). 5. Paul and Barnabas separate (Acts 15:36). A very critical time had now arrived for the church. An important question had to be settled. That Gentiles can be saved and salvation must be extended to the Gentiles had been fully demonstrated. The Apostle of the circumcision, Peter, had been used to prea

ACTS 15:36 TO ACTS 16:5. SHORTER ACCOUNT OF PAUL'S JOURNEY IN ASIA MINOR. The editor's hand is apparent throughout this section. We know from Galatians 2:13 the real reason of Paul's difference with Barnabas, which was one of principle; here it is reduced to a personal matter. Instead of Titus, who (Galatians 2:3) was not compelled to be circumcised, we have Timothy, who was circumcised by Paul (Acts 16:1). In Acts 16:4 Paul acts as a delegate of the Jerusalem church, handing to the faithf

THE CRUCIAL PROBLEM (Acts 15:1-5) The influx of Gentiles into the Church produced a problem which had to be solved. The mental background of the Jew was founded on the fact that he belonged to the chosen people. In effect they believed that not only were the Jews the peculiar possession of God but also that God was the peculiar possession of the Jews. The problem was this. Before a Gentile became a member of the Christian Church was it necessary that he should be circumcised and take upon himself the Law of Moses? In other words--must the Gentile, before he became a Christian, first become a Jew? Or, could a Gentile be received into the Church as such? Even were that question settled there arose another problem. The strict Jew could have no intercourse with a Gentile. He could not have him as guest nor be his guest. He would not, as far as possible, even do business with him. So