Acts 15:1 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

ACTS CHAPTER 15 Acts 15:1-4 Great dissensions arise about circumcising the Gentiles: Paul and Barnabas are sent to consult the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. Acts 15:5,6 The matter is debated in a council there, Acts 15:7-11 Peter declareth his opinion. Acts 15:12 Paul and Barnabas report the miracles they had wrought among the Gentiles. Acts 15:13-21 James pronounceth sentence in favour of the Gentiles, requiring of them abstinence only in a few particulars. Acts 15:22-35 Letters are sent with the determination by messengers to the churches, which are received with joy. Acts 15:36-41 Paul and Barnabas propose to visit together the churches they had planted, but disagree, and travel different ways. Certain men; these were such as did pretend to believe, but were false brethren; some think Cerinthus to have been of them. The brethren; the Gentiles who were converted unto the faith of Christ, or Proselytes of the gate (as they were called) who were not circumcised, and now professing the true faith. These the pharisaical professors would have excluded from any hopes of salvation, although circumcision was not commanded but unto the posterity of Abraham, Genesis 17:10-13, and Abraham himself was justified before he was circumcised, Romans 4:10. After the manner of Moses; according unto the law of Moses: for God by him did renew and establish that ordinance unto that people, although it was long before his time both commanded and practised, 1 Thessalonians 7:22.