after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle Of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21. For Moses of old time hath in every, city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.
We have here a council called, not by writ, but by consent, on this occasion; (v. 6.) The apostles and presbyters came together, to consider of this matter. They did not give their judgment separately, but came together to do it, that they might hear one another's sense in this matter; for in the multitude of counsellors there is safety and satisfaction. They did not give their judgment rashly, but considered of this matter. Though they were clear concerning it in their own minds, yet they would take time to consider of it, and to hear what was to be said by the adverse party. Nor did the apostles give their judgment concerning it without the elders, the inferior ministers, to whom they thus condescended, and on whom they thus put an honour. Those that are most eminent in gifts and graces, and are in the most exalted stations in the church, ought to shew respect to their juniors and inferiors; for though days should speak, yet there is a spirit in man, Job 32. 7, 8. Here is a direction to the pastors of the churches, when difficulties arise, to come together in solemn meetings for mutual advice and encouragement, that they may know one another's mind, and strengthen one another's hand, and may act in concert.
Now here we have,
I. Peter's speech in this synod. He did not in the least pretend to any primacy or headship in this synod; he was not master of this assembly, nor so much as chairman, or moderator pro hac vice—on this occasion; for we do not find that either he spake first, to open the synod, (there having been much disputing before he rose up,) nor that he spake last, to sum up the cause and collect the suffrages; but he was a faithful, prudent, zealous member of this assembly, and offered that which was very much to the purpose, and which would come better from him than from another, because he had himself been the first that preached the gospel to the Gentiles. There had been much disputing, pro and con, upon this question, and liberty of speech allowed, as ought to be in such cases; those of the sect of the Pharisees were some of them present, and allowed to say what they could in defence of those of their opinion at Antioch, which probably was answered by some of the elders: such questions ought to be fairly disputed before they are decided. When both sides had been heard, Peter rose up, and addressed himself to the assembly, Men and brethren, as did James afterward, v. 13. And here,
1. He put them in mind of the call and commission he had some time ago to preach the gospel to the Gentiles; he wondered there should be any difficulty made of a matter already settled: "Ye know that ἀφ᾽ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων—from the beginning of the days of the gospel, many years ago, God made choice among us apostles of one to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and I was the person chosen, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word, and believe, v. 7. Ye know I was questioned about it, and cleared myself to universal satisfaction; every body rejoiced that God had granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life, and nobody said a word of circumcising them, nor was there any thought of such a thing. (See ch. 11. 18.) Why should the Gentiles who hear the word of the gospel by Paul's mouth, be compelled to submit to circumcision, any more than those that heard it by my mouth? Or why should the terms of their admission now be made harder than they were then?"
2. He puts them in mind how remarkably God owned him in preaching to the Gentiles, and gave testimony to their sincerity in embracing the christian faith; (v. 8.) "God, who knows the hearts, and therefore is able to judge infallibly of men, he bore them witness that they were his indeed, by giving them the Holy Ghost; not only the graces and comforts, but the extraordinary miraculous gifts, of the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us apostles." See ch. 11. 15—17. Note, (1.) The Lord knows them that are his, for he knows men's hearts; and we are as our hearts are. (2.) Those to whom God gives the Holy Ghost, he thereby bears witness to that they are his ; hence we are said to be sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, marked for God.
God had bid the Gentiles welcome to the privilege of communion with him, without requiring them to be circumcised, and to keep the law; and therefore shall not we admit them into communion with us but upon those terms? v. 9. God has put no difference between us and them: they, though Gentiles, are as welcome to the grace of Christ and the throne of grace as we Jews are; why then should we set them at a distance, as if we were holier than they? Isa. 65. 5. Note, We ought not to make any conditions of our brethren's acceptance with us, but such as God has made the conditions of their acceptance with him, Rom. 14. 3. Now the Gentiles were fitted for communion with God, in having their hearts purified by faith, and that faith God's own work in them; and therefore why should we think them unfit for communion with us, unless they will submit to the ceremonial purifying enjoined by the law to us? Note, [1.] By faith the heart is purified; we are not only justified, and conscience purified, but the work of sanctification is begun and carried on. [2.] Those that have their hearts purified by faith, therein are made so nearly to resemble one another, that, whatever other difference there may be between them, no account is to be made of it; for the faith of all the saints is alike precious, and has like precious effects; (2 Pet 1. 1.) and they that by it are united to Christ, are so to look upon themselves as joined to one another, as that all distinctions, even that between Jew and Gentile, are immerged and swallowed up in it.
3. He sharply reproves those teachers (some of whom, it is likely, were present) who went about to bring the Gentiles under the obligation of the law of Moses, v. 10. The thing is so plain, that he cannot forbear speaking of it with some warmth;
