Who were the brethren in Acts 15:1?
The brethren in Acts 15:1 were the converts of Paul who had recently come out of paganism—Gentile believers who had embraced Paul’s Gospel. Certain men from Judaea came down and taught these brethren that unless they were circumcised after the manner of Moses, they could not be saved.
Les explains that Acts 15:1 is set about 52 A.D., some twelve years after Peter’s going to the house of Cornelius and some fifteen years after Paul’s own experience on the road to Damascus, so it is not just the day after Pentecost. The brethren were Paul’s converts, recently come out of paganism. Certain men from Judaea taught them, “Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.” In verse 5, certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed said it was needful to circumcise them because they were Gentiles, though they had embraced Paul’s Gospel. Les notes they did not merely suggest keeping the Law; they commanded it and attached salvation to it, trying to pervert the Gospel.
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
More Questions
What did the Judaizers from Judaea teach the Gentile converts in Acts 15:1?
The Judaizers who came down from Judaea taught Paul's recent Gentile converts that unless they were circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved.
Where did the men of Acts 15:1 come from and where did they go?
The 'certain men' of Acts 15:1 came down from Judea to Antioch, the city where Paul and Barnabas had been ministering primarily among Gentiles.
When did the events of Acts 15 take place?
Acts 15 took place around 52 A.D., about 12 years after Peter's visit to the house of Cornelius and about 15 years after Paul's Damascus road experience.