hem, they
determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go
up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question," Acts
xv. 1, 2, compared with ver. 5--"But there rose up certain of the sect
of the Pharisees, which believed, saying, that it was needful to
circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses;" and with
ver. 23, 24--"The apostles, and elders, and brethren send greeting unto
the brethren which are of the Gentiles, in Antioch, and Syria, and
Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from
us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must
be circumcised and keep the law." In which passages these things are
evident:

1. That false doctrine, destructive to the doctrine of Christ in his
gospel, did arise in the Church, viz: That circumcision and keeping of
the ceremonial law of Moses was necessary to salvation, ver. 1, 5, 24;
and this false doctrine promoted with lying, as if the apostles and
elders of Jerusalem had sent forth the false teachers with directions to
preach so, as their apology ("to whom we gave no such commandment," ver.
24) seems to import. Here is corruption both in doctrine and manners fit
for a synod to take cognizance of.

2. That this corrupt doctrine was vented by certain that came down from
Judea. It is evident, it was by certain of the sect of the Pharisees
that believed; as Paul and Barnabas make the narrative to the church at
Jerusalem, ver. 5, therefore the false teachers coming from Judea (where
the Churches of Christ were first of all planted, and whence the church
plantation spread) published their doctrines with more credit to their
errors and danger to the churches; and so both the churches of Judea
whence they came, and of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, whither they came,
were interested in the business.

3. That the said false teachers by the leaven of their doctrine troubled
them with words, subverting the souls of the brethren, both at Antioch,
Syria, and Cilicia, ver. 23, 24; here was the disturbance and scandal of
divers churches: compare ver. 39 with 41.

4. That Paul and Barnabas at Antioch had no small dissension and dispute
against the false teachers, ver. 1, 2, that so (if possible) they might
be convinced, and the Church's peace preserved, without craving further
assistance in a solemn synod.

5. That after these disputes, and for the better settling of all the
churches about thi