7 After there had been much debate , Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren e , you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe . 8 "And God , who knows the heart , testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit , just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith . 10 "Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear ? 11 "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus , in the same way as they also are." 12 All the people kept silent , and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles . 13 After they had stopped speaking , James answered , saying , "Brethren e , listen to me. 14 " Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 15:7-14
Commentary on Acts 15:7-21
(Read Acts 15:7-21)
We see from the words "purifying their hearts by faith," and the address of St. Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; and that both are the gift of God. We have great cause to bless God that we have heard the gospel. May we have that faith which the great Searcher of hearts approves, and attests by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Then our hearts and consciences will be purified from the guilt of sin, and we shall be freed from the burdens some try to lay upon the disciples of Christ. Paul and Barnabas showed by plain matters of fact, that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them, was to undo what God had done. The opinion of James was, that the Gentile converts ought not to be troubled about Jewish rites, but that they should abstain from meats offered to idols, so that they might show their hatred of idolatry. Also, that they should be cautioned against fornication, which was not abhorred by the Gentiles as it should be, and even formed a part of some of their rites. They were counselled to abstain from things strangled, and from eating blood; this was forbidden by the law of Moses, and also here, from reverence to the blood of the sacrifices, which being then still offered, it would needlessly grieve the Jewish converts, and further prejudice the unconverted Jews. But as the reason has long ceased, we are left free in this, as in the like matters. Let converts be warned to avoid all appearances of the evils which they formerly practised, or are likely to be tempted to; and caution them to use Christian liberty with moderation and prudence.