ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:1 The Jerusalem Council. A conference was held in Jerusalem (c. A.D. 48 or 49) to discuss conditions for Gentile membership in the church. The “Pharisaic” group in the Jerusalem church (vv. Acts 15:1) raised the issue. Peter defended the Gentile mission (vv. Acts 15:6). James pr... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:5 Those from the PHARISEES were likely the same group as those insisting on circumcision in v. Acts 15:2 and Acts 11:2. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:6 Peter defended Paul’s Gentile mission. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:7 AFTER THERE HAD BEEN MUCH DEBATE. This important theological issue in the early church was decided by careful reasoning and thoughtful discussion based on Scripture. Peter’s reference to the Gentiles hearing the GOSPEL... BY MY MOUTH... IN THE EARLY DAYS refers to his witness... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:9 CLEANSED THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH. The faith of the Gentiles at Cornelius’s house is implicit in chs. Acts 10:1, but Peter refers to it clearly here. They were saved by faith in their hearts, not by circumcision in their flesh. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("i... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:10 YOKE here refers to the whole of the Mosaic law (see note on v. 1). By speaking of the law as an unbearable yoke, Peter argued that even the Israelites were unable to fulfill it perfectly, and that salvation could never be obtained through the law (see Romans 2:17; Galatians... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:12 When some apostles had begun to leave Jerusalem for a wider witness, the Jerusalem leadership was continued by others. Jesus’ brother James had a prominent role (see Acts 12:17; Acts 21:18). At the Jerusalem council, James supported Peter’s conclusions about a “circumcision-f... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:14 SIMEON. Simon Peter. A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME. This means “for himself,” since someone’s “name” represented all that was true about him and his character. It also seems to imply “for his reputation and his glory.” ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (va... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:16 James refers to “prophets” (v. Acts 15:15), showing that he could appeal to more than one OT text to defend the inclusion of Gentiles by faith alone. See the allusion to Isaiah 45:21 in Acts 15:18, and the context of the Isaiah prophecy. James concentrated on Amos 9:11, which... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:19 James agreed with Peter that they should not TROUBLE the Gentiles with the ritual laws. But he knew that Gentile Christians would have contact with Jewish Christians who still kept the ceremonial law. He offered a proposal by which Gentile Christians could have fellowship wit... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:22 IT SEEMED GOOD. Representatives of the Jerusalem church carried the letter reflecting the unanimous decision of the council. Nothing more is known of JUDAS CALLED BARSABBAS, but SILAS soon became Paul’s missionary companion (v. Acts 15:40). Silas is a shortened form of the Gr... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:23 The Roman province of SYRIA included CILICIA. ANTIOCH was its capital. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:24 UNSETTLING YOUR MINDS. Those insisting that Gentile converts should be circumcised neither represented the Jerusalem leadership nor had their approval (see vv. Acts 15:1, Acts 15:5). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, im... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:28 IT HAS SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND TO US. The apostles and elders were confident that the Holy Spirit had guided their decision. NO GREATER BURDEN. They were not requiring circumcision and observance of the entire Mosaic law (v. Acts 15:10), for salvation is by grace a... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:32 PROPHETS were gifted to speak what the Holy Spirit revealed to them (see notes on 1 Cor. 12:10; and other notes on 1 Corinthians 14:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:33 THEY WERE SENT OFF IN PEACE suggests that Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:36 The Witness in Greece. Paul’s second missionary journey centered on the cities of the Greek provinces of Macedonia and Achaia, including Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. This second journey probably began in A.D. 48 or 49 and ended in 51. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:37 JOHN CALLED MARK. See note on 12:12. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:39 A SHARP DISAGREEMENT. In the sovereignty of God, out of this disagreement came a doubling of their labor. Barnabas went to strengthen the churches in Cyprus and Paul went to the churches in Syria, Cilicia, and Galatia. In addition, both of their assistants (Mark and Silas) we... [ Continue Reading ]
ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 15:41 Paul’s route took him by foot to the churches of his first missionary journey in reverse order. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]