Acts 15:5 – “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.’”

Extended Explanation

This verse captures a key moment in the debate at the Jerusalem Council. Some Jewish believers, who had been Pharisees before following Jesus, insisted that Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised and follow the Law of Moses.

This belief came from their background. The Pharisees were deeply committed to obeying God’s law. Even after coming to faith in Christ, many of them struggled to accept that salvation could come apart from the Law. To them, circumcision and following the Law were not just Jewish customs—they were part of what it meant to be in covenant with God.

But the issue at hand was huge: Was faith in Jesus enough for salvation, or did people need to obey the Jewish law as well? The Pharisee believers were saying that Jesus alone wasn’t enough—Gentiles needed to become like Jews first.

This was in direct opposition to what Paul and Barnabas had been preaching: Salvation comes through grace, not through human effort (Ephesians 2:8-9). This disagreement led to one of the most important decisions in church history.

Historical Context

At this time, the early church was made up mostly of Jewish believers. Many of them still followed the Law of Moses and saw Christianity as the true fulfillment of Judaism, not as a separate faith.

The Pharisees were a religious group known for their strict observance of the Law. Some of them, like Paul before his conversion, had been very zealous in enforcing Jewish traditions. Now, some of these same Pharisees had come to faith in Jesus but still held onto the idea that following the Law was necessary for righteousness.

The problem was that Gentiles (non-Jews) were coming to Christ in large numbers. They had no background in the Law of Moses. Many Jewish Christians expected them to follow Jewish customs to be fully accepted into God’s family.

But Paul, Barnabas, and others had seen firsthand that God was saving Gentiles apart from the Law. The Holy Spirit had come upon them without circumcision, without sacrifices, and without keeping the Jewish dietary laws (Acts 10:44-48).

This council was necessary because the church needed to settle once and for all: Is salvation by faith in Jesus alone, or does it require obedience to the Jewish Law?

Theological Implications

1. Salvation is by Grace, Not the Law – The Pharisee believers were insisting that Gentiles follow the Law to be saved, but later in this chapter, Peter and Paul argue that salvation comes through Jesus alone (Acts 15:11).
2. Legalism vs. Grace – This debate highlights the difference between legalism (trying to earn God’s favor through rules) and grace (trusting in what Jesus has done). The Pharisee believers were falling into legalism by adding requirements to salvation.
3. The Universality of the Gospel – The insistence on circumcision would have created two classes of Christians: Jewish Christians who kept the Law and Gentile Christians who did not. But the gospel is for all people, and Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for both Jews and Gentiles.
4. The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ – Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), making the old system of rituals unnecessary. The Pharisee believers failed to understand that Jesus’ work on the cross had completed what the Law pointed to.

Literary Analysis

Acts 15:5 is written as part of a historical narrative, but it also carries strong theological weight.

• “Some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees” – This phrase shows that these men were both followers of Jesus and still deeply connected to their Pharisaic background.
• “Stood up and said” – This implies that they were taking an official stance in the discussion. They were not simply asking questions; they were making a demand.
• “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses” – This statement directly opposed the idea that salvation was through faith alone.

Luke, the author of Acts, includes this verse to show how deep the conflict was. This was not a minor disagreement—this was about the very heart of the gospel.

Biblical Cross-References

• Galatians 2:16 – “A person is not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ.”
• Romans 3:28 – “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
• Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
• Acts 10:44-48 – The Holy Spirit comes upon Gentile believers before they were circumcised, proving that salvation is by grace.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

1. We Must Be Careful Not to Add to the Gospel – Many people today still try to add rules to salvation, saying things like “You must be baptized to be saved” or “You must follow certain religious traditions.” Acts 15:5 reminds us that salvation is through faith in Jesus alone.
2. Legalism is Still a Danger – The Pharisee believers had a hard time letting go of their traditions. We must ask ourselves: Are there traditions or legalistic beliefs we hold onto that go against the gospel of grace?
3. Faith in Jesus Unites Us – The gospel is for everyone. We are not saved by our cultural background, our religious traditions, or our good works. We are saved by Jesus, and that makes all believers one family in Christ.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is not based on performance. The Pharisee believers were trying to make salvation dependent on human effort, but God’s love is unconditional. He saves us not because we are good enough, but because He is merciful (Titus 3:5).

God’s love is also inclusive. He did not limit salvation to one nation or one group of people. By allowing Gentiles to be saved apart from the Law, He showed that His love reaches all people, in every culture, through faith in Jesus.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus came to fulfill the Law (Matthew 5:17), making circumcision and the Mosaic Law unnecessary for salvation. His death and resurrection were enough—no religious ritual could add to His finished work (John 19:30).

The Pharisee believers failed to recognize that Jesus had already done everything necessary for salvation. Paul later wrote in Galatians 5:2-4 that if people rely on circumcision to be right with God, they are rejecting the grace of Christ.

• John 3:16 – Jesus came to save all people, not just Jews who followed the Law.
• Romans 10:9 – If we confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts, we are saved—no extra works required.
• Colossians 2:13-14 – Jesus canceled the written code of the Law, freeing us from its requirements.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Are there any areas where I am tempted to add extra requirements to the gospel?
2. How can I make sure I am living in the freedom of grace rather than falling into legalism?
3. What traditions or beliefs might I be holding onto that make it harder for others to come to Jesus?
4. How can I celebrate the truth that Jesus’ sacrifice is enough?
5. What does this passage teach me about how to handle theological disagreements with love and truth?

Acts 15:5 reminds us that Jesus alone is enough for salvation. We don’t need to add to His finished work. Let’s live in the freedom of His grace and share it with others!