Act 15:2-23 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Acts 15:2-3: 15:2-3 The Antioch church decided to send ... delegates to Jerusalem to resolve this matter in discussion with the apostles and elders there. En route, the entourage visited believers in Phoenicia and Samaria , where the Christian faith had made substantial inroads (ch 8 ).

Summary for Acts 15:2-3: 15:2-3 ^a The Antioch church decided to send ... delegates to Jerusalem to resolve this matter in discussion with the apostles and elders there. En route, the entourage visited believers in Phoenicia and Samaria, where the Christian faith had made substantial inroads (ch 8 ^b).
Summary for Acts 15:4-21: 15:4-21 ^c The first council of the church met to resolve the dispute concerning Gentiles and circumcision (15:1-2 ^d).
15:5 ^e These Pharisees were believers, yet they retained their strong adherence to the law of Moses. Paul argued against their message most strenuously (see Gal 1:6-9 ^f; 2:14–3:14 ^g).
Summary for Acts 15:7-11: 15:7-11 ^h Peter, no doubt remembering his own experience in the household of Cornelius (ch 10 ⁱ), argued that God had already confirmed his acceptance of the Gentiles without circumcision by giving them the Holy Spirit. The undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus had been made available to all.
Summary for Acts 15:13-19: 15:13-19 ^j James, the brother of Jesus, declared that the conversion of the Gentiles was clearly in accord with Scripture. He argued forcefully that it was contrary to the divine will to put unnecessary requirements on the admission of the Gentiles.
15:14 ^k Peter: Greek Simeon. Peter’s given name was Simon (see Matt 16:17-19 ^l).
Summary for Acts 15:15-19: 15:15-19 ^m Because God’s prophets had predicted the conversion and inclusion of the Gentiles, James argued that the Gentiles should be accepted as Gentiles, without requiring them to practice Judaism (15:1 ⁿ).
15:20 ^o Eating food offered to idols is sinful if it involves knowingly partaking of an idolatrous sacrifice (see Exod 20:4 ^p; Deut 5:8 ^q; 1 Cor 8:4-13 ^r; 10:14-30 ^s; Rev 2:14 ^t, 20 ^u).

• Sexual immorality was common in the Greek world but is always sinful (Exod 20:14 ^v; Deut 5:18 ^w; Gal 5:19 ^x).

• eating the meat of strangled animals: God’s law prohibits eating meat that has blood in it (Lev 17:13-14 ^y) or consuming blood (Lev 17:10-12 ^z), “for the life of every creature is in its blood” (Lev 17:14 ^aa). Also, “It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible” (see Lev 17:11 ^ab and study note). This command was first given to Noah, the ancestor of Gentiles as well as Jews (Gen 9:4 ^ac).
Summary for Acts 15:22-29: 15:22-29 ^ad The Jerusalem church chose two of the church leaders to report its decision. They took with them a letter from the apostles and elders ... in Jerusalem explaining the terms of the agreement.