Acts 15:24-29

The men who had come to Antioch from Jerusalem advocating circumcision (Acts 15:1) had no authorization to do so from the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:24). They spoke on their own authority. The church in Jerusalem had reached a unified opinion on the issue at hand (Acts 15:25). The apostles presented Barnabas and Paul as men the saints in Jerusalem held in the highest regard (Acts 15:25-26). The church leaders had sensed the Holy Spirit’s control in the decision they had reached (Acts 15:28). [Note: On the differences between the Old Uncial and the Western textual readings of Acts 15:29, see C. K. Barrett, "The Apostolic Decree of Acts 15:29," Austrialian Biblical Review 35 (1987):50-59.]

"It should be noted that the letter traced the unanimity of the decision to the action of the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:28), even though the Spirit was not mentioned previously as intervening in the proceedings. This is the way in which the Spirit usually works in the church. There need not be miraculous displays to indicate his direction. Spirit-filled people can detect his presence through the harmony which prevails when men are responsive to his will." [Note: Kent, p. 128.]