The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

  d.      The delegation among the Gentiles (Acts 15:30–35).

Acts 15:30–35. The contingent from Jerusalem together with Judas and Silas went down to Antioch (Antioch is on a lower elevation than Jerusalem) and delivered the letter. The brothers in Antioch were encouraged by the letter, and also by Judas and Silas, the prophets, who encouraged the church still further and strengthened them by a lengthy message.

The saints in Antioch appreciated the ministry of Judas and Silas and sent them off with blessings. The word peace expressed a desire for well-being in all areas of their lives.

Verse Acts 15:34 is omitted by several important Greek manuscripts. Perhaps a scribe added it later to explain the choice of Silas (v. Acts 15:40).

In the following months Paul and Barnabas continued to minister to the saints in Antioch.

  4.      THE CONFIRMATION OF THE CHURCHES IN ASIA MINOR (Acts 15:36–16:5). [SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY, Acts 15:36–18:22]

  a.      The contention between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36–41).

15:36–41. Later when Paul proposed to Barnabas a return trip to confirm the churches established on their first journey, Barnabas wanted to take … Mark with them. Paul disagreed with this suggestion because Mark had deserted them earlier, in Pamphylia (cf. Acts 13:13). The argument became such a sharp disagreement (paroxysmos, “provoking, stirring up, arousing,” the root of the Eng. “paroxysm”) that they parted company. The Lord overruled in this dissension for through it two missionary journeys instead of one were formed—one to Cyprus with Barnabas and Mark, and the other to Syria and Cilicia and ultimately Europe with Paul and Silas. Probably both Paul and Barnabas were right in their assessments of Mark. It may have been too soon for Mark to venture out with such a pro-Gentile apostle as Paul, but Barnabas certainly and correctly saw good raw material in his cousin Mark (cf. Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Phile. 24; 1 Peter 5:13). Paul later spoke of Barnabas in positive terms (1 Cor. 9:6; Col. 4:10). The Apostle Paul owed much to Barnabas and it appears they remained friends despite their contention over Mark.

Neither Mark nor Barnabas are seen again in the Book of Acts; the same is true of Peter following the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

Paul’s choice of Silas, whose Roman name (in Gr.) was Sylvanus (2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thes. 1:1; 2 Thes. 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12), was a wise one: (1) He was an official representative of the Jerusalem church in taking to Antioch the decree of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:22). (2) He was a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37). (3) He was a prophet (Acts 15:32). (4) The church at Antioch knew him well, so both Paul and Silas were commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. (5) Because Silas served as Peter’s amanuensis, it may be concluded he was skilled in the Greek language (cf. 1 Peter 5:12). The ministry of Paul and Silas involved their strengthening the churches (cf. Acts 14:22; 15:32).

  b.      The conscription of Timothy (Acts 16:1–5).

Eng. English

Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 396–398.

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