Some men came from Judea to Antioch and began teaching the brothers, “Unless
you are circumcised following the custom of Moses,
you cannot be
saved.”
2 Paul and Barnabas had a strong disagreement and debate with
them, so the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others to go up to Jerusalem to talk with the
Apostles and elders about this issue. 3 They were sent on their way by the
church, and they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting on the
conversion of the Gentiles. They brought great joy to all the brothers and
sisters.
4 When they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, the
Apostles, and the elders. They gave an account of everything that God had
done with them. 5 But some from the sect of the Pharisees, who had become
believers, stood up and said, “It is essential to circumcise the Gentile converts and
command them to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 The Apostles and elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7 After
much discussion, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that through me the
Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel[830]
and believe. 8 God, who knows
everyone’s thoughts, gave His approval to them by giving them the holy spirit
just as He did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, by
purifying their hearts by faith.
10 So now why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are being saved through the grace of
the lord Jesus, just as they are.”
12 Everyone kept silent as they listened to
Barnabas and Paul reporting the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done among
the Gentiles through them. 13 After they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simeon has reported how God first intervened to choose from among the
Gentiles a people for His name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets,
as it is written:
16 ‘After these things I will return; I will rebuild the royal house of David which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,
17 so that the rest
of mankind may seek the Lord, all the Gentiles who I have called to be Mine, 18 says the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.’
19 Therefore
my judgment is this: that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles
who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things
polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled and from
blood. 21 For Moses from generations past has had in every city those who
proclaim him, since he is read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 22 Then it seemed good to the Apostles and the elders, with the whole
church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul
and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
23 They sent this letter with them: “From the Apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile
brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings! 24 We have heard
that some of our number, who had no instructions from us, have troubled you
with their words, unsettling you. 25 It seemed good to us, having come to a
unanimous decision, to select men and send them to you with our beloved
Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have risked their lives for the name of our lord
Jesus Messiah. 27 So we are sending Judas and Silas, who themselves will also
tell you the same things. 28 For it seemed good to the holy spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these essential things: 29 that you abstain from
meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual
immorality. If you keep yourselves free from these things, it will go well with
you. Farewell.” 30 So when they had been sent off, they went to Antioch. Having gathered
the group of believers together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it out loud, the group rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long
talk. 33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent back in peace by the believers to those who had sent them.
[831] 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch,
teaching and proclaiming the Gospel-word of the Lord, along with many others. 36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit our
brothers and sisters in every town in which we proclaimed the Gospel-word of
the Lord, to see how they are.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. 38 But Paul did not think that it was a good
idea to take with them someone who had left them in Pamphylia, and had not
continued with them in the work. 39 The disagreement became so sharp that
they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to
Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas, and as they left the brothers and sisters
committed them to the grace of the Lord. 41 Paul went through Syria and
Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Commentary
Acts
[829]
Exactly the same pro-Moses tendency persists in our time by the so-called Jewish roots
movement, which in various ways undermines Paul’s clear definition of New Covenant faith. Under the
New Covenant there is no obligation for believers to keep the kosher laws of Lev. 11 and certainly no
obligation to sabbath, holy day and new moon observance (Col. 2:16-17; Mt. 12:5-6). The whole book
of Galatians warns about mixing Moses and Jesus, as does 2 Cor. and much of Hebrews. Christians
should insist on the spiritual freedom from the letter of the law. Paul teaches this vigorously in Gal. 4
and 5, comparing the 10 commandments in the letter to Hagar and bondage.
[830]
The one Gospel is always the Gospel of the Kingdom taught by Jesus (Mk. 1:14-15; Acts 8:12,
etc).
Acts