Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 15:22

"Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:" — Acts 15:22 (ASV)

With James’s judgment “the apostles and elders, with the whole church,” agreed, deciding to send their decision back to Antioch of Syria not only by Paul and Barnabas but also by two leaders of the Jerusalem congregation, Judas Barsabbas and Silas, whose presence would assure reception of the decision and who could interpret the feelings of the council from a Jerusalem perspective. It seems clear that within the Jerusalem church, the congregation was involved in the deliberations of its leaders.

When one considers the situation of the Jerusalem church in A. D. 49, the decision reached by the Jerusalem Christians must be considered one of the boldest and most magnanimous in the annals of church history. While still attempting to minister exclusively to the Jewish nation, the council refused to impede the progress of that other branch of the Christian mission whose success meant further difficulty for them from within their own nation. Undoubtedly there was some uncertainty among the council’s leaders about details of the decision. Certainly they reached it only after much agonizing. Likewise, there probably remained in the Jerusalem church a recalcitrant group that continued to predict ominous consequences. But the decision was made and the malcontents silenced—at least for a time. The effects of the council’s decision were far-reaching.

(1) It freed the Gospel from any necessary entanglement with Judaism and Israelite institutions, though without renouncing the legitimacy of continued Christian activity within them. Thus both Paul’s mission to the Gentiles and the various Jewish Christian missions were enabled to progress side-by-side without conflict.

(2) Attitudes to Paul within Jewish Christianity were clarified. While some of the Jewish believers probably became even more opposed to Paul, others (e.g., John Mark, see vv.37–39) seem to have become more reconciled to him. Also, some felt happier in a Gentile ministry than at Jerusalem (e.g., Silas; see v.40).

(3) The decision of the council had the effect of permanently antagonizing many Jews. From this time onward, the Christian mission within the nation—particularly in and around Jerusalem—faced rough sledding (cf. Romans 11:28). When coupled with the zealotism within the nation during the next two decades, this antagonism proved fatal to the life and ministry of the Jerusalem church.