II. A Controversy on Circumcision (15: 1-35)
A. The beginning of the controversy (vv. 1-5)
v.1 The claim by these Judean brethren is that circumcision is a condition for salvation. Since these men came from Jerusalem their words would carry some weight. We will see that they did not speak for the church at Jerusalem.
v.2 Paul and Barnabas tried to stop this controversy, but to no avail. If Paul was a true apostle, why did he have to go to Jerusalem to get the opinion of those apostles and elders? Gal. 2:2. Time frame: 50 AD.
v.3 "Being brought on their way" could mean they were given financial aid or that they were given an honor escort. The Phoenicians and the Samaritans would be in sympathy with the Gentiles. Why? The trip from Antioch to Jerusalem was about 300 miles.
v.4 The apostles and elders gave Paul and Barnabas a favorable reception and listened to their report.
v.5 Gal. 2:4 describes these brethren of the Pharisees. The issue is: Are Christians under the Law of Moses?
B. Another meeting and a speech by Peter (vv. 6-11)
v.6 The church is present at this meeting (v.22). Gal. 2:6-10 fills in the holes in Luke's narrative.
v.7 Discussion was allowed before the apostles spoke. Peter begins by stating his relationship with the Gentiles. God chose that the Gentiles would believe. It has been about ten years since the conversion of Cornelius.
v.8,9 God had chosen Cornelius, if He saw no difference between Jews and Gentiles, then it was not man's position to create one. The purification of the Gentiles comes through faith, not circumcision.
v.10 Peter asks if they think God has made a mistake. So far he has made four main points: 1) Peter was directed by God to receive Cornelius, 2) God endorsed this reception by sending the Holy Spirit, 3) faith works the same on Jew or Gentile, 4) the Jews could not put a yoke on the Gentiles that God had not chosen for them to bear.
v.11 Salvation was to come through Christ, not the Law of Moses. These are the last recorded words of Peter.
C. Speeches by Barnabas and Paul (v.12)
v.12 Barnabas and Paul continue the argument that God had chosen the Gentiles by rehearsing the miracles they had performed among them.
D. A Speech by James (vv. 13-21)
v.13,14 James now provides the Jews with evidence from the prophets to corroborate what Peter, Barnabas, and Paul have already affirmed. Who is this James? Why would the Jewish brethren tend to listen to him? Who is Simeon? Peter's point according to James, was that the Gentiles have now been chosen by God in like manner that the children of Israel were originally chosen.
v.15-18 Now James quotes Amos 9:11,12. The Messiah was to be a universal Savior. Remember, James would be quoting from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, which would account for any wording discrepancies with our versions. Isa. 2:2-4, 49:6, Mic. 4: 1-4 also are prophecies concerning Gentile acceptance.
v.19,20 James' judgement is that the Gentiles should be instructed concerning four matters and should otherwise be left alone. 1) pollution of idols- worshipping idols or eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. 2) Fornication- the attitude of the Gentiles parallels today's free love society. 3) & 4) both deal with the eating of blood- a practice condemned by God prior to the Law of Moses, Gen. 9:4.
v.21 What does this statement have to do with what has previously been said? Is he saying that Jewish Christians know these things because of their upbringing, but the Gentiles would need to be taught on the matter?