Then
it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
Acts 15:22-29
Acts 15 [16.] ‘After these things I will return.
I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.
I will again build its ruins.
I will set it up,
That the rest of men may seek after the Lord;
all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who does all these things.
[18.] All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.’
“Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Acts 15 [22.] Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. They wrote these things by their hand:
“The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.
Acts 15 [24.] Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
Acts 15 [30.] So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them. After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles. But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Meaning:
The council accepted the judgment of James (Acts 15:19). Now the decision had to reach the churches. These verses record the delegation and the letter it carried.
- “It seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly”
The decision was not made by one leader alone. The apostles and elders led, but the whole church agreed. Judas Barsabbas and Silas were “chief men among the brothers,” respected leaders from Jerusalem. They would confirm the letter in person. Silas, also called Silvanus, would soon become Paul’s partner on his second journey (Acts 15:40), and is later named with Paul and Timothy in the opening of 1 Thessalonians 1:1. Peter also calls him “Silvanus, our faithful brother” (1 Peter 5:12).
- “Some who went out from us have troubled you with words”
The letter openly admits that the trouble came from people from the Jerusalem church. It makes clear that they had no authority from the apostles. False teaching does not only mislead; it unsettles faith and peace. Paul wrote of the same kind of people, “he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is” (Galatians 5:10).
- “Our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives”
The Jerusalem leaders warmly endorse the two missionaries. They had faced danger for Christ’s name: they were driven out of Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:50), and at Lystra Paul was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19).
- “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us”
This phrase shows how the church understood its decision. They had debated, listened to testimony and searched the Scriptures, and they believed the Holy Spirit had guided them to one accord. Jesus had promised, “when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
- “To lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things”
The letter repeats the four requests of James. Believers have long discussed why they are called “necessary.” Some think they were needed for fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers at that time; others see a lasting moral core, especially the warning against sexual immorality. What is clear is that the letter lays “no greater burden”. Circumcision and the whole law are not imposed. Jesus had said, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
The Significance of Acts 15:22-29
- Truth spoken plainly and kindly
The letter corrects error, takes responsibility, honors faithful workers and gives clear guidance. Its tone is warm, beginning with “greetings” and ending with “Farewell.”
- Seeking the Spirit together
The early church believed God guides his people as they pray, listen to one another and search the Scriptures together. Decisions made that way can be offered humbly with confidence.
Cross-References:
John 16:13: "When he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth." The Spirit guiding the church.
Matthew 11:30: "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." No heavy burden for those who come to Christ.
1 Peter 5:12: "Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly." Silas, a trusted letter-bearer.
Acts 14:19: "They stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead." Risking their lives for Christ.
Conclusion: The apostles, elders and the whole church in Jerusalem chose Judas and Silas to go with Paul and Barnabas, and sent a letter to the Gentile believers. It disowned the troublemakers, honored Barnabas and Paul, and declared that it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to the church to lay on them no burden beyond a few necessary things.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible