Acts 15:30-35

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 unnecessary restrictions to the Gentile members. The prophets held long discourses, as prophets were expected to do (Didaché, 10:7, 11, 1 Thessalonians 5:19 f.). The prophets are sent back to Jerusalem; D and other authorities in Acts 15:34 (omitted in RV) account for the inconsistency with Acts 15:40 by saying that Silas chose to stay there and that only Judas made the journey. That the peace which prevailed at Antioch was soon broken by Peter and James (Galatians 2:11 ff.) is not mentioned. The church pursues its course (cf. Acts 11:19 f.). The journey of Paul and Barnabas detailed in chs. 13 f. must have taken place at this point, and a journey is given. But the author has little left to say on it, as he has narrated it already.