Acts 15:22

"The combined force of the four speeches made the will of God so clear that the opposition was totally silenced, and the only remaining question was how to best carry out the proposal" (Reese p. 549). The elders are mentioned right after the apostles. This does not mean they were equal in authority, but rather that they agreed with the conclusion. "The whole church": The Christians in Jerusalem who heard this presentation were convinced as well, including that the Pharisees were in the minority and where unsuccessful in spreading their error in this congregation. Notice that unity is. real possibility when people listen to Scripture and have good hearts. "To send to Antioch": The letter will first be sent to Antioch because this is were the false teachers had first tried to spread their error (Acts 15:1 ff). Paul and Barnabas are selected because they were from Antioch and Judas and Silas as well, who were leading men in the congregation in Jerusalem. Such men from Jerusalem would only confirm the truth that the false teachers had lied and that the church in Jerusalem did not endorse their teaching.

“Judas called Barsabbas": People speculate concerning whether he is the same man mentioned in Acts 1:23. "Silas": He will accompany Paul on his next journey (Acts 15:40; Acts 16:25; Acts 16:29; Acts 17:4; Acts 17:10; Acts 17:15).