Verse 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.
Legalism is defined as excessive adherence to law or to formula, but in simple language it is requiring others to live by rules and regulations that are usually man-made and which put people in bondage. Jesus came to set mankind free. Jesus fulfilled all the law and the prophets because He was the only One who could. Man could not keep the law. The law was nailed to the cross with Jesus and the Old Covenant passed away making room for the New Covenant which is by grace and not by the letter of the law.
The Old Testament law was made up of three parts, not just one. There was the moral law or the Ten Commandments. There was the ceremonial law made up of sabbaths, holy days, washing rituals and so forth. Circumcision was one of the ceremonial laws. And there was the judicial law which was over Hebrew society and enforced by outside entities such as temple guards and soldiers. Circumcision was given to the Hebrew people as a foreshadowing of things to come and as a way to mark the Hebrew men so that if and when they engaged in fornication and sexual sin, others knew who they were. They could not hide their identity. And since the pagan people around them were very much aware of the Jewish God, of the Jewish Temple, and of the Jewish laws, their behavior would be against God and the pagan people would have no respect for them. Circumcision was not required of Gentiles unless they converted to the Jewish religion. Now that the Old Covenant was defunct and Jesus was setting up His Church through His servants, the apostles and disciples, the moral law was written in the hearts of believers and the ceremonial laws including that of circumcision were no longer in force for converted Christians. But the believing Jews had difficulty in letting go of their cultural religion even though they were converted to the Christian faith, and so they wanted to bring this practice into the Church. And they were teaching a falsehood that Jesus never taught or promoted. Circumcision was not required to be saved. It was the hard heart of man that needed to be circumcised metaphorically through humbling oneself and confessing sin, repenting, being baptized and then filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit.
Application: Satan is the adversary of the Church and he will use any method to infiltrate the Church and bring in doctrine that is incorrect. At this time in the history of the early Church, he was attempting to bring in Old Covenant rituals and requirements. He is still doing so today as Christian believers are being encouraged to return to the ceremonial rituals associated with the ceremonial law such as celebrating the three major Old Testament feasts and adhering to Saturday sabbaths and so forth. Yet New Testament Scripture clearly demonstrates that the early Church did not conform to Jewish standards of worship. In fact, the Apostle Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost/Spirit the entire book of Hebrews dealing with this very issue. The Apostle Paul’s analogy in Romans 7 states in verses 4-6, “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” In other words, when one is born again, the old stuff passes away, the Spirit of Jesus Christ comes and dwells within and so one is like Christ and therefore no longer under the law which could not save anyone.
Verses 2-3 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. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
The Apostles Paul and Barnabas had not been preaching and teaching this in their missionary journeys and they not only disagreed with these believing Pharisees but they argued the point with them. So in order to deal with the dissension they decided to go to Jerusalem and bring this matter to the Church fathers for clarification. So once again, the apostles Paul and Barnabas left Antioch.
Verses 4-5 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 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.
So after arriving in Jerusalem and meeting with the Church leaders, the Pharisees once again brought in dissension by demanding that the Gentiles be circumcised and that they keep the law of Moses which was the ceremonial and judicial law. In other words, these believing Jews wanted it both ways: salvation and a personal relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ but incorporating the same form of worship from the Old Covenant.
Application: To clarify, the Old Covenant was an “if you (mankind) do this, I (God) will do that” type of agreement between God and man. The New Covenant is “I (God) will do this” agreement between God and man, removing the “if”. So converted believers do not have to do anything specific or perform works to be born again other than to repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name and be filled with His Spirit. No more pilgrimages to a temple with a lamb to slaughter on an alter, and no more religious regulations other than love God and love your neighbor. The moral law or Ten Commandments are still in place written in the hearts of believers so they can keep them through the power of the Holy Ghost/Spirit dwelling in them. The judicial law is covered by the commandments to love God and love your neighbor. And the ceremonial law is unnecessary as it pointed to or was a foreshadowing of the LORD Jesus Christ who has already come and established His New Covenant.
Verses 6-9 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 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. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
The Apostle Peter who was given the keys to the kingdom by the LORD Jesus Christ and who was the main leader in the Jerusalem Church once again took the lead and brought this dispute to a close. He reminded the men present that God chose to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and that they had received the same gift of the Holy Ghost/Spirit as the converted Jews had received and that God did not differentiate between Jew and Gentile as regarding faith and salvation.
Verses 10-12 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? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
The Apostle Peter pointed out that neither they nor their ancestors could keep the law of Moses so why demand that the Gentiles do so. Salvation was through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ and not through works or through the keeping of the letter of the law.
Verses 13-21 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 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: 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. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
The James in verse 13 above is most likely the brother of Jesus, as James the apostle and brother of the Apostle John was executed by King Herod. James was also a leader in the Jerusalem church and so he would be listened to by the other disciples and elders present at this meeting of church leadership. Notice that God was taking out of the Gentiles a people for His name.
Application: For far too long the Christian church has been told and has accepted the lie that only the Jews are God’s chosen people, regardless of verses like 14 above that clearly teaches that God has chosen people among the Gentiles as well. For God to “take out of them a people for his name” can only mean that God has chosen people from every nation, tribe and tongue.
The Apostle James quoted from the Prophet Amos chapter 9 and then made his decree that the Gentile believers be left alone as God had a plan and knew what He was doing. However, he felt that it would be good to warn the Gentile believers to stay away from idols, from sexual sin, and from consuming blood.
Verses 22-29 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 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: 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: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 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.
Then the Church leadership all agreed to send the apostles Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with a letter from them confirming the Church’s decision regarding the issues of circumcision and the law of Moses, and they also decided to send two other disciples as well.
Verses 30-35 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Judas and Silas were prophets which meant that they brought forth the Word of God. A prophet was not a teller of the future, but one whom the LORD used to tell people what He wanted them to know. Remember that there was no New Testament written at this time and so for the people to hear the Word of God the disciples or apostles that had been with Jesus preached the Word and then new converts told others and so forth so that the Gospel message spread from one believer to others who became believers and then shared it with others until entire towns had heard the Gospel message. So these men remained in Antioch growing the Church.
Verses 36-41 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. (Acts 15)
Eventually the Apostle Paul wanted to return to the places he and Barnabas had traveled to in order to check on the believers they had left in the towns and villages where they had shared the Gospel. Scripture does not explain, but John Mark who had abandoned them on their first missionary journey was back with the Apostle Barnabas and he apparently wanted to travel with them again. But the Apostle Paul did not want him to accompany them. So there was a difference in opinion and Paul and Barnabas separated and went their separate ways.
Application: There will be differences of opinions among converted Christian believers from time to time, and just as the apostles Paul and Barnabas worked out a solution to their disagreement, believers should always seek the will of God and always agree to disagree with Christian brothers and sisters in a manner that reflects the love of the LORD Jesus Christ.