Acts 15:4

Received of the church. Upon first arriving at Jerusalem, the apostles seem to have been welcomed cordially by the church in general. The opposition faction made itself apparent after the apostles stressed publicly their success with Gentiles.

The apostles. See on ch. 1:2.

They declared. Comparison with v. 6 seems to indicate that a preliminary meeting was held at which Paul and Barnabas told the story of their missionary labors. Perhaps this was the meeting held “privately” with “them which were of reputation” to which Paul later refers (Gal. 2:2). Some time must have been consumed in telling the story of the deeds and sufferings, of the signs and wonders, as well as of the purity and love, of the Gentile converts. Such a narrative was the best possible introduction to the question that was later discussed and decided in the council.