Acts 15:3

Brought on their way. This custom is recorded repeatedly in the Acts (chs. 20:38; 21:16). To accompany a guest, and especially a departing teacher for a short distance on his way, was considered by the Jews as an act of hospitality. Thus Abraham had accompanied the angels on their way toward Sodom (Gen. 18:16). An ancient Jewish tradition declares: “A teacher [accompanies] his pupils until the outskirts of a city; one colleague [accompanies] another up to the Sabbath-limit; a pupil [accompanies] his master a distance without limit” (Talmud Sotah 46b, Soncino ed., p. 243). A declaration attributed to Rabbi Meir (c. A.D. 150) says: “Whoever does not escort others or allow himself to be escorted is as though he sheds blood” (ibid., p. 244).

Phenice. That is, Phoenicia. The apostles’ route from Antioch to Jerusalem lay along the coast through Sidon, Tyre, and probably Caesarea, and then through Samaria. They found “brethren,” implying established congregations, along the way. Some of these doubtless had been established by Philip. Regarding the origin of others nothing is known beyond the present brief allusion, which suggests how much of early Christian history had not been preserved.

Conversion of the Gentiles. Inevitably this was Paul’s principal theme. Doubtless he gave the story on numerous occasions in full detail, and stressed, as Peter did with the experience of Cornelius, that the Spirit had put the seal of His approval upon the acceptance of uncircumcised men.

Caused great joy. The form of the verb used here implies that as Paul and Barnabas made their way toward Jerusalem, the news of the conversion of Gentiles was received continually with gladness. This attitude on the part of the churches of Phoenicia and Samaria contrasts strikingly with the narrowness and bitterness of the Pharisees in the church at Jerusalem (v. 5) and the Judaizing party that sought to speak on behalf of it.

Unto all. Compare ch. 11:2—4, 18. The church was happy at the good news Paul and Barnabas brought. Those who insisted on circumcision for the Gentiles were only a group among the Christian Jews, and are described as “certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed” (ch. 15:5). The Pharisees were earnest supporters of the ritual law.