Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

15:22 it seemed good. Mature Christian wisdom and reasoning, in dependence on the Lord, resulted in a unanimous corporate decision. (See also v. 28.) The letter was accompanied by representatives of the Jerusalem church who could testify to the reasoning that the consensus expressed. Nothing more is known of Judas called Barsabbas, but Silas soon became Paul's missionary companion (v. 40). Silas is a shortened form of the Greek name Silvanus (the name by which he is known in the NT epistles).

15:23 The Roman province of Syria included Cilicia, with Antioch as its provincial capital.

15:24 unsettling your minds. Those insisting that Gentile converts should be circumcised neither represented the Jerusalem leadership nor had their approval (cf. vv. 1-2, 5).

15:28 it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. The apostles and elders were confident that the Holy Spirit had guided their decision making process. no greater burden. They were not requiring circumcision and observance of the entire Mosaic law (v. 10), for salvation is by grace alone (v. 11).

15:32 Prophets were gifted to speak what the Holy Spirit revealed to them, here resulting in encouragement and strength (see notes on 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:10; and other notes on 1 Corinthians 14).

15:33 They were sent off in peace suggests that Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem.