Acts 15:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

NIV: So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.

NASB: So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

CSB: So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.

NLT: The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.

KJV: So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

NKJV: So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

Legalistic Jewish Christians from Judea had come to the church in Syrian Antioch and told Gentiles they must be circumcised and conform to the Mosaic law (Acts 15:1). They claimed this was a requirement for salvation by grace; truthfully, they couldn't eat or worship with Gentiles without losing their reputation among the non-Christian Jews (Galatians 6:12). The apostles and elders of the church in Jerusalem reject their claims but do require the Gentiles to refrain from sexual immorality and make modest changes to their dietary habits (Acts 15:29). These changes will ensure that normal Jewish Christians can live in community with them.

The council of the church in Jerusalem write their verdict in a letter. Paul and Barnabas, whose home church is in Syrian Antioch, had brought the conflict to the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:2). They now accompany Judas Barsabbas and Silas, representatives of the council who will deliver the message (Acts 15:22). The Antiochenes are greatly encouraged. Not only are they free from legalistic expectations, the apostles and James, the half-brother of Jesus and pastor of the church in Jerusalem, have affirmed their churches are in harmony.

The requirements given by the council have very little practical impact. These believers already know they should not be sexually immoral. It would be little problem to avoid blood and meat sacrificed to idols in the few joint meals they hold every week. The Antiochenes are grateful to know how they can better be unified with the Jews in the church the Holy Spirit has established (1 Corinthians 12:13). In our own lives and in our churches, we should do the same: seek clarity when we appear to afflict believers from a different culture, reject sin of any kind, and humbly seek out a solution that will bring reconciliation. Fighting for our "rights" while ignoring the concerns of others is not unifying.

Acts 15:30–35 depicts the delivery of a resolution about Gentiles in the church. Jewish Christians from Judea had come to Syrian Antioch and insisted Gentile believers must first convert to Judaism. The Antiochenes took their objections to the leadership in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem sided with the Antiochenes, but required they make cultural concessions so Jews felt free to worship and live with them in unity (Acts 15:1–29). Now, the church in Antioch rejoices. Not only are they officially free from the Mosaic law, they are warmly unified with the apostles and the first church in Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas are in Syrian Antioch, home from their first missionary journey. Legalistic Christians from Jerusalem arrive and insist Gentiles must convert to Judaism. When negotiations fail, a delegation travels to Jerusalem to request clarification from Jesus' closest students. The leadership in Jerusalem agree with Paul and Barnabas. They write a letter that Gentiles should only make concessions, mostly dietary, which will ensure unity with the Jews in their congregation. After delivering the letter to Antioch, Paul takes Silas and Barnabas takes John Mark to share the letter to other churches they have planted.

Acts chapter 15 resembles Acts 11:1–18, where Peter testified before the leadership of the church in Jerusalem. His subject was how the Holy Spirit had fallen on uncircumcised and unbaptized Gentiles. Here Paul and Barnabas also testify that Gentiles are coming to faith in Jesus without being circumcised. The issue the leadership must decide is the extent Gentiles must be responsible to follow the Mosaic law. Their decision is that the Law is in no way required to be saved, but Gentiles should graciously make concessions so their Jewish brothers and sisters feel free to live in community. This forms a partial background to the rest of Paul's missionary journeys as explained in Acts.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.