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 ]