Acts 15:22–35 The Council’s Letter to the Churches
Quick Summary
Acts 15:22–35 records how the Jerusalem Council translated a theological decision into pastoral action. A letter is written, trusted leaders are sent, and the churches are encouraged rather than burdened. Unity is preserved not by control, but by clarity, humility, and shared joy in the Spirit’s work.
Introduction
Decisions matter, but how decisions are communicated matters just as much. Acts 15 has already shown the early church wrestling with one of its most consequential questions: must Gentile believers adopt Jewish law in order to belong fully to the people of God? The apostles and elders have listened, debated, searched the Scriptures, and testified to the Spirit’s work. Now comes the moment that often reveals the true character of a community.
Acts 15:22–35 is not about abstract theology. It is about a letter, a journey, and a response. It shows how the church moves from council chamber to congregation, from conviction to care. The leaders in Jerusalem understand that unity cannot be assumed. It must be nurtured. And so they send not only words, but people. They do not simply announce a ruling. They explain it, embody it, and rejoice in its effect.
This passage reveals a church learning how to lead without coercion, how to draw boundaries without exclusion, and how to trust that the Spirit who called them together will also keep them together.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of Acts 15:22–35 and Commentary
Acts 15:22–23
The apostles and elders, with the consent of the whole church, choose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. From the beginning, the decision is communal. Authority is exercised, but it is not isolated. The phrase “with the consent of the whole church” matters. It signals that discernment has been shared, not imposed.
The letter itself is carefully addressed. It names the apostles and elders as brothers, not rulers. It is sent to Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, acknowledging their full inclusion. Even the greeting reflects the decision that has been made. These believers are not outsiders receiving instructions from above. They are family.
Acts 15:24
The letter begins by acknowledging harm. Certain individuals went out without authorization and unsettled the Gentile believers, troubling them with words. The leaders do not minimize the damage. They name it plainly. Confusion in the church is not neutral. It wounds.
This admission also draws a clear line. Those voices did not represent the Jerusalem church. Unity sometimes requires saying, “That was not us.” Accountability is part of pastoral care.
Acts 15:25–26
The council affirms its unity. They have reached a unanimous decision. They commend Paul and Barnabas as people who have risked their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ. This is more than courtesy. It restores trust where confusion may have eroded it.
By honoring Paul and Barnabas publicly, the council reinforces that the mission to the Gentiles is not a side project or a threat. It is central to what God is doing.
Acts 15:27–28
Judas and Silas are sent to confirm the letter’s message in person. The church understands that written words alone are not enough. Presence matters. Interpretation matters. Relationship matters.
Then comes one of the most striking lines in Acts: “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” The decision is not claimed as divine fiat, nor as human compromise. It is both. The Spirit is active, but the community participates. Discernment is shared work.
Acts 15:29
The letter outlines a few necessary practices: abstaining from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. These instructions are not a return to the full Mosaic Law. They are minimal and relational.
The goal is table fellowship and moral clarity in diverse communities. These practices allow Jewish and Gentile believers to live together without violating conscience or covenant. The letter closes with a gentle exhortation rather than a threat: “If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.”
Acts 15:30–31
When the letter is delivered in Antioch, the response is joy. The believers rejoice because of its encouragement. Relief replaces anxiety. Belonging replaces uncertainty.
This is a crucial moment. Good theology produces good fruit. When decisions align with the Spirit’s work, the result is not fear or resentment, but joy.
Acts 15:32–33
Judas and Silas, described as prophets, encourage and strengthen the believers. Their role is not enforcement, but edification. After some time, they are sent back in peace. The language of peace signals restored relationships and shared trust.
Acts 15:34–35
Silas remains, and Paul and Barnabas continue teaching and preaching in Antioch. The mission resumes, now unburdened by the question that once threatened to divide the church.
The chapter does not end with victory speeches or institutional consolidation. It ends with teaching, preaching, and many others doing the same. The work continues. Unity has not stopped the mission. It has freed it.
Acts 15:22–35 Meaning for Today
Acts 15:22–35 offers a model for how churches can navigate disagreement without losing one another. It shows that clarity does not require harshness, and boundaries do not require exclusion. Decisions made in community, communicated with care, and embodied through relationship can become sources of joy rather than division.
This passage also reminds the church that the Spirit works through ordinary means: letters, conversations, travel, shared meals. Faithfulness is often unremarkable on the surface. And yet, through these ordinary acts, the church learns how to live together as one body with many members.
Works Consulted
Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988.
Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary, Vol. 3. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014.
Peterson, David G. The Acts of the Apostles. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.
Witherington III, Ben. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
