Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Acts 15

Act 15:1 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.

certain men which came

Gal 2:12.

Except ye be circumcised

Col 2:11, 14.

after the manner of Moses

Lev 12:3.

Act 15:3 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.

Phenice

Phoenicia.

Act 15:5 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.

law of Moses

Law (of Moses). Act 15:5, 10-11, 28-29; Rom 2:12-27. (Exo 19:1; Gal 3:1-29).

Act 15:7 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.

disputing

questioning.

choice

Election (personal). Act 22:14. (Deu 7:6; 1Pe 1:2).

that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word

Mat 16:19. Peter used the keys first for the Jews on the day of Pentecost; secondly, in the house of Cornelius for the Gentiles. But Paul was distinctively the apostle to the Gentiles. Gal 2:7-8.

gospel

Gospel. Act 16:10. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

Act 15:10 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?

tempt

Temptation. Act 20:19. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Men and brethren, hearken unto me

Dispensationally, this is the most important passage in the N.T. It gives the divine purpose for this age, and for the beginning of the next.

1. The taking out from among the Gentiles of a people for His name, the distinctive work of the present, or church-age. The church is the ecclesia—the "called-out assembly." Precisely this has been in progress since Pentecost. The Gospel has never anywhere converted all, but everywhere has called out some.
2. "After this [viz.(in other words) the out-calling] I will return." James quotes from Amo 9:11-12. The verses which follow in Amos describe the final regathering of Israel, which the other prophets invariably connect with the fulfilment of the Davidic Covenant (e.g. Isa 11:1, 10-12; Jer 23:5-8).
3. "And will build again the tabernacle of David," i.e. re-establish the Davidic rule over Israel (2Sa 7:8-17; Luk 1:31-33).
4. "That the residue of men [Israelites] may seek after the Lord" (cf. Zec 12:7-8; 13:1-2).
5. "And all the Gentiles," etc. (cf. Mic 4:2; Zec 8:21-22). This is also the order of Rom 11:24-27.

Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

at the first

Literally for the first time, i.e. in the house of Cornelius. Act 15:8-11; Act 10:34-48; 11:12-18.

Act 15:16 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:

tabernacle of David

Kingdom (N.T.). Act 15:14-17; Rev 3:21. (Luk 1:31; 1Co 15:28.)

Act 15:17 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.

Lord

Jehovah. Act 15:16-17; Amo 9:11-12.

who doeth all these things

Israel (prophecies). Act 15:14-17; Rom 9:1-8. (Gen 12:2, 3; Rom 11:26.)

Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

world

i.e. ages.

Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

sentence

judgment.

we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God

The scope of the decision goes far beyond the mere question of circumcision. The whole question of the relation of the law to Gentile believers had been put in issue (Act 15:5), and their exemption is declared in the decision (Act 15:19, 24). The decision might be otherwise stated in the terms of Rom 6:14: "Ye are not under the law, but under grace." Gentile believers were to show grace by abstaining from the practices offensive to godly Jews (Act 15:20-21, 28-29 cf. Rom 14:12-17; 1Co 8:1-13).

Act 15:23 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:

elders

Elders. Act 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4. (Act 11:30; Tit 1:5-9.)

Act 15:24 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:

subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised

Gal 5:2, 4.

to whom we gave no such commandment

Mat 5:17, 20; Col 2:14; Heb 10:1.

Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Men that have hazarded their lives

Act 13:50; 14:19; 1Co 15:30; 2Co 11:23, 26.

Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Act 15:8, 28; 16:6-7. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Act 15:29 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.

meats offered

things sacrificed.

idols

1Co 8:1-13; 1Co 10:19-22.

from blood, and from things strangled

Gen 9:4; Lev 22:8.

fornication

1Co 5:1, 13; 7:2; 1Th 4:3-8.

ye shall do well

It shall be well with you.

Act 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

they rejoiced for the consolation

Act 11:23.

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

prophets

1Co 14:3 defines the N.T. gift of prophecy.

Act 15:35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch

Act 11:26.

Act 15:36 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 some days after

Act 13:2.

Act 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

determined

was minded.

John

Act 12:12, 15; 13:5; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 1:24.

Act 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

departed

withdrew.

Act 15:39 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;

Barnabas

And is heard of no more in the Bible story.

sailed unto Cyprus

Act 4:36; 13:4.

Act 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

being recommended by the brethren

Cf. Act 13:3 with Act 14:26.

Act 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

confirming the churches

Churches (local). Act 15:1-32, 36-41; Act 18:22. (Act 2:41; Phl 1:1).