What does Acts 15:22 mean?
After Paul and Barnabas returned to Syrian Antioch, they told the story of the many churches they had planted in central modern-day Asia Minor. These congregations were filled with Jews and Gentiles who had accepted the salvation and forgiveness of sins offered by Jesus. Before long, Jewish Christians arrived from Judea. Before they were saved, they were Pharisees: devout men who surrounded themselves with burdensome laws that went beyond what Moses had commanded (Matthew 23:2–4). The "Judaizers" insisted that Gentiles could not receive salvation unless they first fully converted to Judaism. Paul, Barnabas, and the church disagreed, so the two men traveled 300 miles south to Jerusalem to get confirmation from the apostles and the church elders there (Acts 15:1–3).After discussion, the church confirms the leaders in Antioch are right. Not only are circumcision and following the Mosaic law unnecessary for salvation, to request such things is harassment. James, however, sees the bigger picture. The Jews have had to make many concessions to embrace Gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ. For thousands of years, it was against the Mosaic law to have such close interaction. James feels it is reasonable for the Gentiles to make small changes in their lifestyle for the sake of the true unity that Jesus planned (John 10:16). He orders the Gentiles to refrain from sexual immorality—probably meaning marriage between close relatives—and eating blood and things sacrificed to idols (Acts 15:4–21).
The council agrees and senses the approval of the Holy Spirit. But as honorable as Paul, Barnabas, and the other leaders from Antioch may be, Pharisaical Jewish Christians are everywhere and not easily thwarted. So, the church enlists Judas Barsabbas and Silas as official representatives of the church in Jerusalem to present the official verdict.
Nothing more is known of Judas Barsabbas. "Barsabbas" means "son of the father," which tells us nothing except that he somehow resembles his own father. This reference might be like a modern man having the nickname "Junior."
Silas, however, has a much bigger role in the rest of the book of Acts. When Paul and Barnabas prepare for their second missionary journey, Barnabas wishes to take John Mark. Paul disagrees, still stinging over Mark's abandonment on their first trip (Acts 13:13). Barnabas leaves with Mark, and Paul takes Silas (Acts 15:36–41). Silas is imprisoned and beaten with Paul in Philippi (Acts 16:22–40) and partners with Timothy when Paul can't (Acts 17:14; 18:5). Like Paul, Silas is a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37) and Paul mentions him several times in his letters (2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1).
