THE QUESTION OF CIRCUMCISION AT ANTIOCH AND AT JERUSALEM. IF. THE CUSTOM OF MOSES (_cf. Acts 6:14_) is the law of Moses as practised. Circumcision was no doubt the most important question to be settled; to exact it would have prevented the spread of the Church among the Gentiles; but there were othe... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DELIBERATION. The meeting is a public one (see Acts 15:12 and Acts 15:22). In Galatians 2 Paul says he laid his manner of preaching before those of reputation, in private. Peter comes forward (D says, in the Spirit) in the character of apostle of the Uncircumcision, rehearsing the facts given in... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEECH OF JAMES. Who is this James? In Galatians 2:9 Paul tells us of the agreement he made with James and Cephas and John. James and John in this account are _prima facie_ to be taken as the two sons of Zebedee; when Paul refers to the other James he calls him the brother of the Lord (Galatians 1:1... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LETTER IS SENT. The apostles and elders have never in this chapter acted alone (see Acts 15:6); the action is that of the whole Church. Silas does not stand for Silvanus, but is a Semitic name, the Aramaic form of Saul (Schmiedel in EBi. 4519); in Ac. he is the companion of Paul. Judas and Silas... [ Continue Reading ]
EVENTS AT ANTIOCH. At Antioch on the arrival of the party, everything is quiet and decorous: there is no mention of the disturbers of Acts 15:1; the impression is given that the authority of the Mother Church was decisive to all. They rejoiced apparently on account of the freedom given from unnecess... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]