19 Therefore aI judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who bare turning to God,
20 but that we awrite to them to abstain bfrom things polluted by idols, cfrom sexual immorality, dfrom things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, abeing read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named aBarsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that asome who went out from us have troubled you with words, bunsettling your souls, saying, “Youmust be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—
25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one1 accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26amen who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29athat you abstain from things offered to idols, bfrom blood, from things strangled, and from csexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Continuing Ministry in Syria
30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
From the beginning of the world (ap aiwnov). Or, "from of old." James adds these words, perhaps with a reminiscence of Isaiah 45:21. His point is that this purpose of God, as set forth in Amos, is an old one. God has an Israel outside of and beyond the Jewish race, whom he will make his true "Israel" and so there is no occasion for surprise in the story of God's dealings with the Gentiles as told by Barnabas and Paul. God's eternal purpose of grace includes all who call upon his name in every land and people (Isaiah 2:1; Micah 4:1). This larger and richer purpose and plan of God was one of the mysteries which Paul will unfold in the future (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:9). James sees it clearly now. God is making it known (poiwn tauta gnwsta), if they will only be willing to see and understand. It was a great deliverance that James had made and it exerted a profound influence on the assembly.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 15:18:
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