Acts 15:1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 15:1-5

Even when things go on very smoothly and pleasantly in a state or in a church, it is folly to be secure, and to think the mountain stands strong and cannot be moved; some uneasiness or other will arise, which is not foreseen, cannot be prevented, but must be prepared for. If ever there was a heaven upon earth, surely it was in the church at Antioch at this time, when there were so many excellent ministers there, and blessed Paul among them, building up that church in her most holy faith. But... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 15:1-5

The influx of Gentiles into the Church produced a problem which had to be solved. The mental background of the Jew was founded on the fact that he belonged to the chosen people. In effect they believed that not only were the Jews the peculiar possession of God but also that God was the peculiar possession of the Jews. The problem was this. Before a Gentile became a member of the Christian Church was it necessary that he should be circumcised and take upon himself the Law of Moses? In other... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 15:1-5

15:1-5 Some men came down from Judaea and tried to teach the brethren, "If you are not circumcised according to the practice of Moses you cannot be saved." When Paul and Barnabas had a great dispute and argument with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to get this question settled. So they were sent on their way by the Church, and they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling the story of the conversion of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 15:1

And certain men which came down from Judea ,.... To Antioch; they were not sent by the apostles, they came down of "themselves"; who they were, is not certain; that they were "judaizing" Christians, and teachers among them, is plain from the following account: according to Epiphanius F7 Contra Haeres. l. 1. Haeres. 28. they were Cerinthus, and some of his followers: these taught the brethren ; the Gentile converts at Antioch, who are styled "brethren", though they were Gentiles,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:1

Except ye be circumcised, etc. - The persons who taught this doctrine appear to have been converts to Christianity; but, supposing that the Christian religion was intended to perfect the Mosaic, and not to supersede it, they insisted on the necessity of circumcision, because, by that, a man was made debtor to the whole law, to observe all its rites and ceremonies. This question produced great disturbance in the apostolic Church; and, notwithstanding the decree mentioned in this chapter, the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 15:1

Verse 1− 1.When Paul and Barnabas had endured many combats against the professed enemies of the gospel, Luke doth now begin to declare that they were tried by domestic war; so that it was meet that their doctrine and ministry should be proved by all means, to the end it might the better appear that they were furnished by God, and armed against all the assaults of the world and Satan. For that was no small confirmation for their doctrine, in that being shaken and battered with so many engines,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:1

Came down … and taught for which came down … taught, A.V.; saying for and said, A.V. ; custom ( ἔθος ) for manner, A.V. Except ye be circumcised , etc. The question thus raised nearly effected the disruption of the Church, and was the most serious controversy that had yet arisen. If the views broached by these Judaean Christians had prevailed, the whole character of Christianity would have been changed, and its existence probably cut short. How great the danger was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:1

Circumcision and salvation Revised Version, "Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved." It was inevitable that the claims of Judaism and of Christianity should presently come into conflict. The conflict, when it came, would be sure to rage round some one particular point of difference; not necessarily the most important point, but the one which would give most prominence to the essential differences. Circumcision was only a formal rite, and its importance... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:1-5

The Judaizers at Antioch. There must needs be heresies, that is, divisions and separations of opinion, in order that that which is approved may be made manifest. In conflicts of this kind, the chaff of falsehood is sifted from the genuine wheat of truth. I. THE POSITION OF THE JUDAIZERS . 1. It was a reactionary position. It aimed at the re-establishment of circumcision as the condition of salvation. This was going back from the "spirit" to the "flesh," from the principle... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 15:1-11

A grave crisis in the kingdom of God: more lessons. The crisis of the kingdom will be found in the life of the Divine Leader of the faith. In those hours when all that was human in him shrank from the sufferings and sorrows which were before him, or from the agony which was upon him, or from the darkness which enshrouded him, then was "the crisis of the world" and of the kingdom of God on earth. But this also was a crisis, grave and serious. If the Church at Antioch had yielded to these... read more

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