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Acts 15

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

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.

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

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?

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

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.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit 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 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:

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.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

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:

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:

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:

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men 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 shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

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.

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

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.

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

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;

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

What does Acts 15:27 mean?

Explanation

Acts 15:27 speaks of the decision made by the early Christian church regarding the requirements for Gentile converts to Christianity.

In this passage, it is stated that Judas (also known as Barsabbas) and Silas were chosen to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to verbally confirm the decisions made at the Jerusalem Council.

The verse emphasizes the importance of oral communication, as Judas and Silas were tasked with speaking directly to the Gentile believers, ostensibly to foster clarity and trust regarding the council's decisions.

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Historical Context

This verse is situated within the account of the Jerusalem Council, which is reported in Acts 15.

The council convened to address a dispute that arose in the early Christian community concerning whether Gentile converts needed to observe Jewish law, particularly circumcision, to be saved.

The church leaders, including the apostles and elders, gathered in Jerusalem to deliberate on this issue.

The decision they reached was that Gentile believers were not required to be circumcised or to fully observe Jewish law, but they were asked to abstain from certain practices.

This verse reflects the aftermath of that decision and the council's effort to communicate its conclusions to the wider Christian community.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 15:27 reflects the early church's exercise of ecclesial authority and its effort to maintain unity despite cultural and religious diversity. The sending of Judas and Silas serves as a testament to the fellowship and shared mission within the body of Christ.

Theologically, this verse demonstrates the church's commitment to resolving doctrinal issues through counsel and consensus rather than through unilateral decision-making.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse are manifold.

In contemporary terms, this verse promotes clear and effective communication within communities, the importance of personal interaction when resolving contentious issues, and the role of trusted representatives in conveying decisions and fostering unity.

It underscores the value of addressing potential misunderstandings or disagreements with both written and verbal communication, emphasizing that both methods are critical for ensuring a message is properly received and understood.

Cross-References

Acts 15:22 - "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."
Acts 15:32 - "And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the verb used for "tell" is "λαλέω" (laleō), which means to talk, speak out, or utter.

The phrase "the same things by mouth" underscores the personal and direct nature of the communication. The personal involvement of Judas and Silas emphasizes the authenticity and seriousness of the message being delivered.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures and religions, the idea of sending envoys or messengers to deliver important decisions or doctrines was common.

For instance, in Judaic traditions, prophets often served as the mouthpiece of God to communicate His will to the people.

In Greco-Roman culture, heralds or messengers conveyed decrees from leaders to the public.

The Christian method of sending Judas and Silas parallels these cultural practices of authoritative communication.

Scientific Perspectives

While there isn't a direct scientific angle to this particular verse, the concept of effective communication and how it influences group cohesion and decision acceptance is well studied in the fields of psychology and sociology.

Research in group dynamics might shed light on how early Christian communities managed their internal conflicts and maintained unity through deliberate communication strategies.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators often highlight the importance of this verse within the narrative of the Jerusalem Council. They note that the presence of Judas and Silas helped to validate the message being delivered to the Antioch church.

Commentators also point out that this verse shows the apostles' care for the Gentile believers and their desire to ensure that the decisions made by the council were understood and accepted without controversy or confusion.

The use of trusted individuals to communicate sensitive decisions is frequently remarked upon as a wise and strategic move by the apostolic leadership.

Acts 15

Acts 15

What does Acts 15:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 15:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?