Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
The men were saying that salvation lied in adherence to the law. It could be that these men were the same that came from James in Galatians 2:12 and influenced Peter to stop eating with the Gentiles, because they had to be circumcised to be saved (Acts 11:3).
The companion book to Acts 15 is Galatians 2. The brethren here in Acts 15:1 are those in the Antioch church who were being told they had to be circumcised to be saved (Galatians 2:4). This prompted a dispute which resulted in the meeting in Jerusalem here in Acts 15.
Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:5 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.
These believing Pharisees were saying that the law was necessary for salvation.
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Here, Peter is referring to Acts 10 where he was singled out and sent to Cornelius. Cornelius was a Gentile, who feared God; He may well have been a proselyte.
Peter, when speaking in Acts 10, preached Jesus and Gentiles believed. These Gentiles were saved by Peter preaching the name of Christ for salvation (Acts 10:43). Israel to be saved unto eternal life, had to believe on his name, that he was Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). These Gentiles, believing on his name, were added to the believing remnant of Israel, who would enter into the earthly kingdom; these Gentiles were not placed into the body of Christ.
Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Those Gentiles who believed Peter were given the Holy Ghost, as were the Jews.
Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
It has always been by faith. The believing Gentiles were on equal terms of being purified to enter the prophetic earthly kingdom (Luke 1:32 Isaiah 9:6-7 Daniel 7:18).
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Peter was saying the Gentiles were already accepted of God; why contend with God and determine unbearable requirements be put on them, that God did not command. Israel was unable to keep the law, so why expect the Gentiles would.
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Peter here was saying that by the grace of God the Jews would be saved as well as the Gentiles; Israel needed and recognized that they, unable to be saved by keeping the law, needed grace for their salvation. It has always been by grace that anyone is saved. This grace, however, does not mean that Peter is preaching Paul's Gospel of Grace.
Paul preached faith in Christ alone, faith in what Christ did on the cross in dying for our sins, as our substitute; faith in his blood and resurrection for our complete forgiveness.
Paul preached a gospel of Grace apart from Israel. A gospel that did not require the law or works.
Paul preached that the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile was abolished by the cross.
Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Simeon is Peter. James is affirming that God was calling out the Gentiles to salvation.
Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
James was saying that God will set up the kingdom which will include Gentiles that will call on his name (Amos 9:11-12). Israel in the coming Kingdom would bring the Gentiles to the Lord for salvation (Zechariah 8:23).
Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
James also upheld that the law was not required for Gentiles. Moses and the law is accessible and being preached in every synagogue; why introduce the law's demands to the Gentiles outside of the Jews.
Acts 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
It was agreed that the Gentiles would not be subjected to do the whole law, but only a few commands.
The men were saying that salvation lied in adherence to the law. It could be that these men were the same that came from James in Galatians 2:12 and influenced Peter to stop eating with the Gentiles, because they had to be circumcised to be saved (Acts 11:3).
The companion book to Acts 15 is Galatians 2. The brethren here in Acts 15:1 are those in the Antioch church who were being told they had to be circumcised to be saved (Galatians 2:4). This prompted a dispute which resulted in the meeting in Jerusalem here in Acts 15.
Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Acts 15:5 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.
These believing Pharisees were saying that the law was necessary for salvation.
Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Here, Peter is referring to Acts 10 where he was singled out and sent to Cornelius. Cornelius was a Gentile, who feared God; He may well have been a proselyte.
Peter, when speaking in Acts 10, preached Jesus and Gentiles believed. These Gentiles were saved by Peter preaching the name of Christ for salvation (Acts 10:43). Israel to be saved unto eternal life, had to believe on his name, that he was Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). These Gentiles, believing on his name, were added to the believing remnant of Israel, who would enter into the earthly kingdom; these Gentiles were not placed into the body of Christ.
Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Those Gentiles who believed Peter were given the Holy Ghost, as were the Jews.
Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
It has always been by faith. The believing Gentiles were on equal terms of being purified to enter the prophetic earthly kingdom (Luke 1:32 Isaiah 9:6-7 Daniel 7:18).
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Peter was saying the Gentiles were already accepted of God; why contend with God and determine unbearable requirements be put on them, that God did not command. Israel was unable to keep the law, so why expect the Gentiles would.
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Peter here was saying that by the grace of God the Jews would be saved as well as the Gentiles; Israel needed and recognized that they, unable to be saved by keeping the law, needed grace for their salvation. It has always been by grace that anyone is saved. This grace, however, does not mean that Peter is preaching Paul's Gospel of Grace.
Paul preached faith in Christ alone, faith in what Christ did on the cross in dying for our sins, as our substitute; faith in his blood and resurrection for our complete forgiveness.
Paul preached a gospel of Grace apart from Israel. A gospel that did not require the law or works.
Paul preached that the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile was abolished by the cross.
Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Simeon is Peter. James is affirming that God was calling out the Gentiles to salvation.
Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
James was saying that God will set up the kingdom which will include Gentiles that will call on his name (Amos 9:11-12). Israel in the coming Kingdom would bring the Gentiles to the Lord for salvation (Zechariah 8:23).
Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
James also upheld that the law was not required for Gentiles. Moses and the law is accessible and being preached in every synagogue; why introduce the law's demands to the Gentiles outside of the Jews.
Acts 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
It was agreed that the Gentiles would not be subjected to do the whole law, but only a few commands.
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