Acts 15:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

NIV: Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, 'The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.'

NASB: But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, 'It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.'

CSB: But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses."

NLT: But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, 'The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.'

KJV: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

NKJV: But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Members of the church in Syrian Antioch have come to the church in Jerusalem. They are accompanied by Paul and Barnabas. This delegation wants to discuss whether Gentiles must convert to Judaism to receive salvation from Jesus (Acts 15:2–4). Jewish Christians from the sect of the Pharisees had travelled to Antioch to tell the largely Gentile church they need to be circumcised and devoted to the Mosaic law. Otherwise, they claim, these converts cannot be saved (Acts 15:1). Now in Jerusalem, even more Pharisees contradict the truth that salvation is only by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9).

This is one of the first theological arguments in the history of the church, and it's important that it be resolved quickly. Jesus worked almost exclusively with Jews because God always intended salvation come from the Jews (John 4:22). Jesus is the Jewish Messiah promised in the Jewish Scriptures. It's somewhat understandable for the Pharisees to assume salvation is a product Judaism. But Jesus brought His message to the Jews for them to share it with Gentiles. Christ commissioned His followers to share His story, not their former religion or existing culture (Acts 1:8).

Paul has strong words for those who would add works to their faith. He calls them the "circumcision party" (Titus 1:10) and "those who mutilate the flesh" (Philippians 3:2) and wishes they would go all the way and castrate themselves (Galatians 5:12). He points out that if someone chooses to seek salvation through circumcision and the Law, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is meaningless to them and salvation is impossible (Galatians 5:2–6). No one can earn God's forgiveness.

It is unclear where this meeting in Acts 15 fits with the events of Galatians 2. In Galatians 2:1–10, Paul speaks of how he, Barnabas, and Titus went to the leaders in Jerusalem to make sure they were accurately representing Christ to the Gentiles. Peter, John, and James—the half-brother of Christ—confirmed their message and their ministry. Later, apparently, Peter came to Syrian Antioch and freely fellowshipped with the Gentile believers. But when Jews who were probably Pharisees arrived "from James," Peter and Barnabas stopped eating with the Gentiles. Paul became livid at their hypocrisy and confronted Peter in public (Galatians 2:11–14).

It seems these Pharisee Christians are not as much concerned with the nature of salvation as they are with their own reputations. In Galatians 6:12, Paul notes, "It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ." The Pharisees love to be adored by the people (Matthew 23:5–7). They want to follow Jesus without losing the respect of the Jewish leaders. If they are seen eating with uncircumcised Gentiles, they will lose their reputation and their honor. They completely miss Jesus' message that this is inevitable for His true followers (John 15:18–20).

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.