Acts 15:1

Certain men. The emissaries of dissension are not named. They seem to have been Pharisees who had become Christians (see v. 5).

Down from Judaea. That is, from Judea to Antioch. These new teachers came from the center of apostolic authority, but apparently without authorization to teach what they set forth.

Taught the brethren. The church at Antioch was a cosmopolitan body, composed of Jews, Gentile proselytes, and members converted directly from paganism (cf. on ch. 11:19, 20). Furthermore, Paul and Barnabas, the leading spirits in preaching to the Gentiles, were prominent there and had been commissioned by that church. For these reasons, and because the Antiochian church was the one nearest to Judea containing Gentiles in large numbers, the question of how to deal with Gentiles in the church from the point of view of Judaism naturally emerged there.

Be circumcised. See on ch. 7:8. This demand proves what is not elsewhere plainly stated in Scripture, that Paul and Barnabas had not required their Gentile converts to be circumcised. Here opens the account of the first major controversy in the Christian church. It was certain to arise as soon as Christianity spread beyond Palestine. The first converts to Christianity were Jews, but they retained most of the practices and prejudices of the religion in which they had been reared. Therefore they were shocked to see Gentiles come into the Christian church without first having become full proselytes to Judaism. It might have seemed that the conversion of Cornelius, or even that of the Ethiopian, or of the Samaritans, would have settled the question. Those who now set forth objections may have been willing to accept Cornelius and his household into the church. But they probably argued that the leading of the Holy Spirit had brought about an exception in Cornelius’ case that did not vitiate the rule of circumcision. Hence they declared that those who were brought into the church through baptism, under the clear leading of the Holy Spirit, should now be circumcised.

These agitators came to Antioch probably claiming to speak in the name of James, the presiding officer of the church in Jerusalem. But James distinctly denied having authorized them to do this (v. 24). However, inasmuch as he seems to have been a stickler for Judaic ritual and custom in his personal life (cf. Gal. 2:12), they probably felt justified in identifying him with their teaching. They maintained that circumcision was part of the law, and that if it was neglected or refused, the whole law was broken. They were neither prepared nor willing to recognize the true relationship between Christ and the law. The Judaizers brought into prominence at Antioch a question that proved a continuing cause of dissension throughout Paul’s ministry, and left its mark on most of the writings of the NT, and even upon postapostolic Christian literature.

The query may be raised as to why the Lord did not anticipate such questions as this during His ministry on earth. He did not deal with it specifically, but did lay general emphasis upon true religion as being that of the soul, and not of outward observances. Christ laid a broad foundation, and enunciated principles rather than detailed dogmas.

The church was to be led step by step into all truth by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). This did not mean that the church was to develop an authoritative tradition. But it did indicate that the church was to discover and experience new light. Christianity has had to solve many problems in the face of fresh developments, but this was not to be done by changing the teachings and examples of Scripture (Rom. 15:4). New light, with the solution of unforeseen problems, would come from increasing study of the truths of Scripture, and making applications of scriptural principles to the work of the church.

Manner of Moses. Or, “custom of Moses.” The practice was more than a “manner” in the sense of “fashion.” Circumcision was given to Abraham by God (Gen. 17:10-13), and was confirmed to Moses (Lev. 12:3; cf. John 7:22).

Ye cannot be saved. Here was the heart of the problem. Circumcision could hardly be required of the Gentiles on the grounds of the antiquity of the custom, nor as a condition of church membership. The Judaizers presented it as a necessary step to salvation. However, God had “opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles” (ch. 14:27), a development that could not but prove that ceremonial rites were no longer needed.