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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 15:33 mean?

Explanation

Acts 15:33 describes a moment of peaceful departure for certain individuals referred to as "brethren" from the company of the apostles after they had spent some time with them.

This verse fits within the larger narrative of the Council of Jerusalem, where early Christian leaders convened to discuss crucial matters regarding the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian community and related issues of observance of Jewish law.

After the council reached its decisions, which were aimed at ensuring harmony among believers of different backgrounds, the brethren mentioned in this verse were those who had brought the apostolic letter to Antioch.

Their return in peace signifies the amicable resolution of the previously contentious issues and the mutual respect and fellowship between Christians of Jewish and Gentile origins.

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Historical Context

Acts 15:33 occurs within the narrative of the Acts of the Apostles, traditionally attributed to Luke.

The council referenced in the chapter took place in Jerusalem roughly around AD 50.

This was a pivotal moment for the early Christian movement as apostles and elders gathered to deliberate on the question of whether Gentile converts to Christianity needed to observe Jewish laws, particularly circumcision.

This gathering, known as the Council of Jerusalem, concluded with a decision that Gentile believers should not be burdened with the entirety of Jewish law, and specific recommendations were made concerning behaviors to avoid, which would allow them to be in fellowship with the Jewish Christian community.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates the principle of unity within the body of Christ, regardless of cultural or ethnic differences.

The Council of Jerusalem reached a consensus that upheld the belief that salvation through Jesus Christ was available to all humanity and that Gentile Christians were not required to fully adhere to Jewish Law.

Thus, the "peace" mentioned in this verse can be seen not only in the sense of a tranquil departure but also as an embodiment of the spiritual peace that comes from the reconciliation of believers into one community of faith.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Acts 15:33 might include the importance of seeking and maintaining peace within the Christian community, resolving conflicts through discussion and agreement, and valuing the diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds among believers.

This verse can inspire modern Christians to work towards unity and to respectfully conclude matters of contention, recognizing that peace is an essential quality of communal life in faith.

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 15:28-29 - "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."

Ephesians 2:14-16 - "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;...

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"

Language Study

A key term in this verse is "peace" (Greek: εἰρήνη, eirēnē).

In the Greco-Roman world, "peace" often referred to the cessation of hostilities, but in the Jewish and Christian context, it had a richer connotation of wholeness, well-being, and harmony.

This term not only meant the absence of conflict but also the positive presence of right relationships within the community.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader ancient world, the idea of peace and communal harmony is not unique to Christianity.

Many cultures and religions emphasized harmonious relations among members of the community and with the divine.

For instance, in Judaism, the similar concept of "shalom" permeates much of the Hebrew Scriptures, denoting peace, completeness, and welfare.

Comparative religious studies might draw parallels between such values across different ancient and modern faith traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the concept of "peace" does not directly intersect with empirical data or phenomena.

However, emerging disciplines like neurotheology and the study of psychology of religion might explore how beliefs and practices aimed at promoting peace affect human well-being and social dynamics, potentially linking spiritual practices to physical and mental health outcomes.

Commentaries

Various Bible commentators provide insight into Acts 15:33.

Matthew Henry, for instance, notes the amicability of the scene, emphasizing the goodwill and mutual satisfaction among the parties involved.

John Calvin highlights the peaceful resolution of a major church issue and the important role of the gathered community in reaching a consensus.

Contemporary commentary often views this verse as a model for conflict resolution within the church, calling attention to the essential role of peace among believers in the Christian witness.

Acts 15

Acts 15

What does Acts 15:33 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 15:33 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?