Acts 15:23

“And wrote letters by them after this manner, etc.] Not that they made use of them as their amanuenses, to write their letters for them; but being written they put them into their hands, and sent them by them, and they were written in the following form: the apostles, and elders, and brethren; which belonged to, or were members of the church at Jerusalem; they are severally set in their proper place and order: the apostles, Peter, and James, and John, and it may be some others first; for these God had set in the first place in the church; then the elders, or preachers of the Gospel, such as were Judas and Silas: and then the brethren, or private members of the church; who are called so,…”

“And they wrote . . . by them--This is the first mention in the New Testament history of writing as an element in its development. And the combination here of written and oral transmission of an important decision reminds us of the first occasion of writing mentioned in the Old Testament, where a similar combination occurs (Exo 17:14). But whereas there it is the deep difference between Israel and the Gentiles which is proclaimed, here it is the obliteration of that difference through faith in the Lord Jesus [BAUMGARTEN]. greeting--The only other place in the New Testament where this word occurs (except in the letter of Lysias, Act 23:26) is Jam 1:1, which seems to show that both letters were…”

“And wrote letters - Greek: “Having written.” It does not mean that they wrote more than one epistle. By them - Greek: by their hand.” After this manner - Greek: these things. Send greeting - A word of salutation, expressing their desire of the happiness (χαίρειν chairein) of the persons addressed. Compare Matthew 26:49; Matthew 27:29; Luke 1:28; John 19:3. In Antioch - Where the difficulty first arose. And Syria - Antioch was the capital of Syria, and it is probable that the dispute was not confined to the capital. And Cilicia - See the notes on Acts 6:9. Cilicia was adjacent to Syria. Paul and Barnabas had traveled through it, and it is probable that the same difficulty would exist there…”

“Writing thus, and sending it by their hand - The whole conduct of this affair plainly shows that the Church in those days had no conception of St. Peter's primacy, or of his being the chief judge in controversies. For the decree is drawn up, not according to his, but the Apostle James's proposal and direction: and that in the name, not of St. Peter, but of all the apostles and elders, and of the whole Church. Nay, St. Peter's name is not mentioned at all, either in the order for sending to Jerusalem on the question, Act 15:2, or in the address of the messengers concerning it, Act 15:4, or in the letter which was written in answer. Acts 15:24”

“The apostles: Act 15:4, Act 15:22 greeting: Act 23:26; Rom 16:3-16; Jam 1:1; Jo2 1:3, Jo2 1:13; Jo3 1:14 brethren: Act 11:18, Act 14:27, Act 21:25 Syria: Act 15:41, Act 18:18, Act 21:3; Gal 1:21 Acts 15:24”