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#28.
The Decrees and Paul's Interpretation of their spirit
(15: 22-35).
pp. 155 - 159
The assembled church, together with the apostles and elders, agree with one accord to
the appeals of Peter and James, and their decision is recorded in a letter sent by the hands
of Barnabas, Paul, Silas and Judas. This letter is of intense interest, not only on account
of its teaching, but also because it is the earliest church letter in existence. Let us take it
out of its setting for the moment and look at it as a letter, complete in itself.
"The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren which are of the
Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, Greeting.
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you
with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the law: to
whom we gave no such commandment:
It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto
you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, who shall tell you the
same things by mouth.
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden
than these necessary things: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood,
and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which, if ye keep yourselves, ye
shall do well. Fare ye well."
Such is the letter itself. Its inter-relation with the context is best seen by expanding
the structure of this section as follows:
Acts 15: 22-29.
B | 15: 22-29. Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.
"We gave no such commandment."
n1 | IT SEEMED GOOD.
o1 | To apostles, elders and whole church.
p1 | Send chosen men.
q1 | Chief men among the brethren.
r1 | Greeting. No such commandment.
n2 | IT SEEMED GOOD.
o2 | Assembled with one accord.
p2 | Send chosen men.
q2 | Men who hazarded their lives.
r2 | Tell you the same things.
n3 | IT SEEMED GOOD.
o3 | To the Holy Spirit and to us.
p3 | Lay no other burden.
q3 | That ye abstain.
r3 | Fare ye well.