SOME MEN CAME FROM JUDEA. This chapter shows us something of the sharp conflict which shook the church of that day. Was Christianity just an extension of Judaism, or, was it something completely new??? The Jerusalem and Judean Christians remained strict Jews (Acts 21:20-21). The Samaritan Christians... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD A FIERCE ARGUMENT. This shows the importance of the issue. These men were from Jerusalem, and could claim they were acting by the authority of the apostles. SHOULD GO TO JERUSALEM. The Twelve were there.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE SENT ON THEIR WAY BY THE CHURCH. This was an official mission. _Johnson_ thinks a special escort of church-members went along with them to Jerusalem. They visited the churches in Phoenicia and Samarai as they went through, and told them what God was doing among the Gentiles. [The Holy Spir... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SOME OF THE BELIEVERS. Like Paul, they had _converted_ to Christ, but unlike him, they had not given up their prejudice (_see_ Acts 21:20-21). Some may have been Paul's old friends. They quickly raised the question when Paul and Barnabas gave the report of Acts 15:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE APOSTLES AND THE ELDERS MET TOGETHER. _W. M. Ramsay_ gives 49 A.D. as the date of this. [_Johnson_ gives 51 A.D.] The Twelve had been reduced by one (Acts 12:2). James, the Lord's brother, was a chief man in the Jerusalem church. Historians often call him the pastor or bishop. Note that both of... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER A LONG DEBATE. Some Jews believed God was their personal property, and that the Gentiles had to accept their Law and Tradition and come to God through them. Paul and others knew that God had terminated the Law (Colossians 2:14), and of course, Tradition had no authority at all. PETER STOOD UP.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WHOLE GROUP WAS SILENT. They are amazed! The miracles show that God approves the work among the Gentiles.... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES SPOKE UP. Note it is James, the brother of Jesus, who takes charge of the situation. See Galatians 2:9 and the introduction to_ James._... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON BAS JUST EXPLAINED. Read what Simon Peter said in Acts 15:7-11. This is what James refers to.... [ Continue Reading ]
15-18. THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS. James paraphrases Amos 9:11-12. RAISE DAVID'S FALLEN HOUSE. Restore the glory of David in the Messiah. Note that James applies this to what had already happened. AND SO ALL OTHER PEOPLE. This prophecy of the Gentiles being called to God, does not mention circumcisio... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS MY OPINION. James can plainly see that this is God's will, so he must agree with it. SEE NOTE ON ACTS 15:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
We SHOULD write A LETTER. Four things are mentioned, all of which were common practices in the Gentile world. FOOD THAT IS UNCLEAN. _Johnson_ thinks this includes everything that went into the worship of idols (_see note on_ Revelation 2:20). But this must be understood in view of what Paul said in... [ Continue Reading ]
TOGETHER WITH THE WHOLE CHURCH. The entire group of Christians were in agreement about this. THEY CHOSE JUDAS. He was a prophet (Acts 15:32). SILAS, He became Paul's associate (Acts 15:40). THEY SENT THE FOLLOWING LETTER BY THEM. The letter explains the question and the answer. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND W... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE FILLED WITH JOY. Because the Law did not apply to them, and because of the good will of their Jewish brothers in Christ. JUDAS AND SILAS. _Prophets:_ see note on Ephesians 4:11. They had supernormal knowledge. THEY WERE SENT OFF IN PEACE. This shows the close fellowship between the Jewish... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US GO BACK. This begins the second tour of missions. _W. M. Ramsay_ gives the date as 50 A.D. (by the corrected calendar). BARNABAS WANTED TO TAKE JOHN MARK. See notes on Acts 13:5; Acts 13:13. THEY HAD A SHARP ARGUMENT. Neither one would "give in," yet note this was not a fight, but a friendly... [ Continue Reading ]