What does Acts 15:5 mean?
Members of the church in Syrian Antioch have come to the church in Jerusalem. They are accompanied by Paul and Barnabas. This delegation wants to discuss whether Gentiles must convert to Judaism to receive salvation from Jesus (Acts 15:2–4). Jewish Christians from the sect of the Pharisees had travelled to Antioch to tell the largely Gentile church they need to be circumcised and devoted to the Mosaic law. Otherwise, they claim, these converts cannot be saved (Acts 15:1). Now in Jerusalem, even more Pharisees contradict the truth that salvation is only by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9).This is one of the first theological arguments in the history of the church, and it's important that it be resolved quickly. Jesus worked almost exclusively with Jews because God always intended salvation come from the Jews (John 4:22). Jesus is the Jewish Messiah promised in the Jewish Scriptures. It's somewhat understandable for the Pharisees to assume salvation is a product Judaism. But Jesus brought His message to the Jews for them to share it with Gentiles. Christ commissioned His followers to share His story, not their former religion or existing culture (Acts 1:8).
Paul has strong words for those who would add works to their faith. He calls them the "circumcision party" (Titus 1:10) and "those who mutilate the flesh" (Philippians 3:2) and wishes they would go all the way and castrate themselves (Galatians 5:12). He points out that if someone chooses to seek salvation through circumcision and the Law, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is meaningless to them and salvation is impossible (Galatians 5:2–6). No one can earn God's forgiveness.
It is unclear where this meeting in Acts 15 fits with the events of Galatians 2. In Galatians 2:1–10, Paul speaks of how he, Barnabas, and Titus went to the leaders in Jerusalem to make sure they were accurately representing Christ to the Gentiles. Peter, John, and James—the half-brother of Christ—confirmed their message and their ministry. Later, apparently, Peter came to Syrian Antioch and freely fellowshipped with the Gentile believers. But when Jews who were probably Pharisees arrived "from James," Peter and Barnabas stopped eating with the Gentiles. Paul became livid at their hypocrisy and confronted Peter in public (Galatians 2:11–14).
It seems these Pharisee Christians are not as much concerned with the nature of salvation as they are with their own reputations. In Galatians 6:12, Paul notes, "It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ." The Pharisees love to be adored by the people (Matthew 23:5–7). They want to follow Jesus without losing the respect of the Jewish leaders. If they are seen eating with uncircumcised Gentiles, they will lose their reputation and their honor. They completely miss Jesus' message that this is inevitable for His true followers (John 15:18–20).
