Matthew Henry Commentary Acts 15
Matthew Henry Commentary
Acts 15
Matthew Henry Commentary
Acts 15
"And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter." — Acts 15:1-6 (ASV)
Some from Judea taught the Gentile converts at Antioch that they could not be saved unless they observed the whole ceremonial law as given by Moses; and thus they sought to destroy Christian liberty. Their doctrine was very discouraging.
There is a strange proneness in us to think that all do wrong who do not act just as we do. Wise and good men desire to avoid contests and disputes as far as they can; yet when false teachers oppose the main truths of the gospel, or bring in hurtful doctrines, we must not decline to oppose them.
"And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they. And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me: Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old. Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God; but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath." — Acts 15:7-21 (ASV)
We see from the words purifying their hearts by faith, and the address of Saint Peter, that justification by faith and sanctification by the Holy Spirit cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit.
Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the guilt of sin, and we will be freed from the burdens some try to lay upon the disciples of Christ.
Paul and Barnabas showed by plain matters of fact that God confirmed the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore, to impose that law upon them was to undo what God had done. The opinion of James was that the Gentile converts ought not to be troubled about Jewish rites, but that they should abstain from food offered to idols, so that they might show their hatred of idolatry.
Also, they should be cautioned against fornication, which was not abhorred by the Gentiles as it should be, and even formed a part of some of their rites. They were counseled to abstain from things strangled, and from eating blood; this was forbidden by the law of Moses and also in this present directive, out of reverence for the blood of the sacrifices, which were then still being offered, as consuming these would have unnecessarily grieved the Jewish converts and further alienated the unconverted Jews. But since the reason for this has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in similar matters.
Let converts be warned to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practiced, or are likely to be tempted to; and let them be cautioned to use Christian liberty with moderation and prudence.
"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: and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth. [But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.] But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also." — Acts 15:22-35 (ASV)
Authorized to declare they were directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good to God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things previously mentioned—things necessary either in themselves or due to present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances—which perplexed the conscience but could not purify or pacify it—were no longer imposed on them. It was also a comfort that those who troubled their minds were silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored and what threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for which they blessed God.
Many others were at Antioch. Where many labor in the word and doctrine, there may still be opportunity for us: the zeal and usefulness of others should stir us up, not lull us to sleep.
"And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare. And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark. But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus; but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches." — Acts 15:36-41 (ASV)
Here we have a private quarrel between two ministers, no less than Paul and Barnabas, yet it was made to end well. Barnabas wished his nephew John Mark to go with them. We should suspect ourselves of being partial and guard against this when putting our relatives forward. Paul did not think him worthy of the honor, nor fit for the service, as he had departed from them without their knowledge or consent . Neither would yield; therefore, there was no alternative but for them to part.
We see that the best of men are only men, subject to the same passions as we are. Perhaps there were faults on both sides, as is usual in such contentions. Christ's example alone is a copy without a blot. Yet we are not to think it strange if there are differences among wise and good men. It will be so while we are in this imperfect state; we will never all be of one mind until we come to heaven.
But what mischief the remnants of pride and passion, found even in good men, do in the world, and do in the church! Many who lived at Antioch, who had heard little of the devotedness and piety of Paul and Barnabas, heard of their dispute and separation; and so it will be with us, if we give way to contention. Believers must be constant in prayer, so that they may never be led, by indulging unholy tempers, to hurt the cause they really desire to serve.
Paul speaks with esteem and affection of both Barnabas and Mark in his epistles, written after this event. May all who profess Your name, O loving Savior, be thoroughly reconciled by that love derived from You—a love that is not easily provoked and that soon forgets and buries injuries.
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