Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” 2 Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question. 3 They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them. 5 But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.” 6 The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter. 7 After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. 10 Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.” 12 The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
The request for a meeting of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem originated from the Church in Antioch because some Jewish Christians from Judea had been teaching that Gentile converts must be circumcised according to the Mosaic Law to be saved. This teaching caused significant debate and disagreement with Paul and Barnabas, who had been preaching salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. As a result, the Church in Antioch decided that Paul and Barnabas, key leaders in the Gentile mission, would be part of a delegation to Jerusalem to discuss the issue with the apostles and elders. As they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they spread the news of Gentile conversions which brought great joy to the Christian communities.
Paul and Barnabas received a warm welcome in Jerusalem and reported on their missionary experiences and the Holy Spirit’s work among the Gentiles. Some Pharisees who became Christians insisted that the Gentiles must be circumcised and adhere to the Mosaic Law. The apostles and presbyters began deliberations on the matter. After much debate, Peter, a leading apostle as shown at Pentecost (Acts 2), recounted his own experience with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, initiated solely by God, which marked the inclusion of the Gentiles into the Christian Church without the need for circumcision or adherence to the Mosaic Law (Acts 10). Peter declared that faith, not the Law, is the means by which hearts are purified. Peter then accused those insisting on circumcision and adherence to Mosaic Law of questioning God's will and actions (Ex. 17:2; Ps. 95:9).
The Mosaic Law was considered a yoke, an oppressive restraint because of detailed prescriptions and rituals that neither the current generation of Jews nor their ancestors were able to bear. The inability of the Jews to fulfill the Law’s demands highlights the need for salvation through grace rather than through legalistic observance. Peter concluded that both Jews and Gentiles are saved by God’s grace, emphasizing that Salvation is a gift from God, and the Christian faith makes Jews and Gentiles equal. Paul and Barnabas then share their missionary experiences, affirming God's active work among the Gentiles through signs and wonders, which supports Peter's argument and demonstrates the Holy Spirit’s approval of the Gentile mission.
Heavenly Father, just as You guided the apostles and elders to embrace unity and grace, help us to seek Your will in all our decisions. Grant us the courage to welcome all believers with love and to trust in Your Holy Spirit to guide our hearts. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
__________________________________
Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
Comments