It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to usThis phrase highlights the unity between divine guidance and human decision-making. The early church leaders, including the apostles and elders, sought the Holy Spirit's direction in resolving the issue of whether Gentile converts should follow Jewish law. This reflects the practice of seeking God's will in decision-making, as seen in other scriptures like
Acts 13:2, where the Holy Spirit directs the church in Antioch. The phrase underscores the belief that the Holy Spirit actively guides the church, a theme consistent throughout the New Testament.
not to burden you
The context here is the Jerusalem Council's decision regarding the requirements for Gentile believers. The leaders chose not to impose the full weight of the Mosaic Law on Gentile converts, recognizing the grace of the New Covenant. This decision reflects Jesus' teaching inMatthew 11:28-30, where He invites those who are burdened to find rest in Him. The early church sought to avoid placing unnecessary obstacles in the path of new believers, emphasizing the sufficiency of faith in Christ for salvation.
with anything beyond these essential requirements:
The "essential requirements" refer to the specific instructions given to Gentile believers, which included abstaining from food sacrificed to idols, blood, meat of strangled animals, and sexual immorality (Acts 15:29). These requirements were chosen to promote unity between Jewish and Gentile Christians and to avoid practices that were particularly offensive to Jewish believers. This decision reflects the early church's effort to balance freedom in Christ with sensitivity to cultural and religious backgrounds, as seen in Paul's teachings in1 Corinthians 8 andRomans 14. The focus on essentials aligns with the broader biblical theme of prioritizing love and unity within the body of Christ.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The Apostles and EldersKey leaders in the early church who gathered in Jerusalem to discuss the requirements for Gentile believers.
2.
The Jerusalem CouncilA significant meeting in the early church where leaders decided on the requirements for Gentile converts.
3.
The Holy SpiritThe third person of the Trinity, who guided the decision-making process of the council.
4.
Gentile BelieversNon-Jewish converts to Christianity who were the subject of the council's decision.
5.
AntiochThe city where the letter containing the council's decision was sent, a major center of early Christianity.
Teaching Points
Guidance of the Holy SpiritThe decision of the Jerusalem Council was made under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine guidance in church matters.
Unity in DiversityThe council's decision highlights the importance of unity within the church, respecting cultural differences while maintaining core Christian beliefs.
Avoiding Unnecessary BurdensThe early church leaders chose not to impose unnecessary burdens on Gentile believers, teaching us to focus on essential doctrines and avoid legalism.
Essential RequirementsThe council identified essential requirements for believers, reminding us to discern between essential and non-essential issues in our faith.
Role of Church LeadershipThe involvement of apostles and elders in decision-making underscores the importance of godly leadership and accountability in the church.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Acts 15:28?
2.How does Acts 15:28 guide us in discerning the Holy Spirit's will today?
3.What burdens did the Holy Spirit and apostles choose not to impose?
4.How can we apply the principle of "no greater burden" in church decisions?
5.What Old Testament laws relate to the burdens mentioned in Acts 15:28?
6.How does Acts 15:28 encourage unity among diverse believers in Christ?
7.What does "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit" imply about divine guidance in Acts 15:28?
8.How does Acts 15:28 address the role of the Holy Spirit in decision-making?
9.Why were only certain burdens deemed necessary in Acts 15:28?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 15?
11.What are Ecumenical Councils?
12.What is Conciliarism?
13.What is the meaning of 'Spirit of the Law'?
14.What defines a synod?What Does Acts 15:28 Mean
It seemed goodLuke records, “It seemed good…,” signaling a settled confidence rather than a hasty opinion.
• The church did not move on impulse; they paused, prayed, and perceived what was “good” (Proverbs 3:5-6;Colossians 1:9-10).
• “Good” here echoesGenesis 1, where God repeatedly declares His work “good.” When God calls something good, it is trustworthy, wholesome, and beneficial.
• By phrasing it this way, the apostles model humble dependence: they present a conclusion, yet leave the ultimate credit with God (James 1:17).
to the Holy SpiritThe first Person consulted is not human leadership but the indwelling Guide.
• Jesus promised, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things” (John 14:26). The Jerusalem council experienced that promise firsthand.
• Acts consistently attributes direction to the Spirit—sending Philip (Acts 8:29), calling Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2), and prohibiting Paul from certain regions (Acts 16:6-7).
• By invoking the Spirit, the apostles affirm that doctrine and practice must align with divine revelation, not cultural pressure (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).
and to usHuman agreement follows divine initiative.
• God’s pattern is cooperative: the Spirit prompts; believers respond (Romans 8:14).
• Unity among leaders—Peter, Paul, Barnabas, James—demonstrated that the same Spirit speaking within each produced a harmonious verdict (Ephesians 4:3-4).
• This protects the flock: decisions are not the whim of one personality but a Spirit-led consensus confirmed by multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15;Acts 6:2-6).
not to burden youThe gospel is freedom, not a yoke of man-made rules.
• Jesus invites, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).
• The council refused to impose circumcision and the full Mosaic code on Gentile believers, guarding them from legalism (Galatians 5:1).
• “Burden” implies weight that hinders growth; the apostles removed obstacles so that faith could flourish unhindered (Hebrews 12:1).
with anything beyondThe leaders draw a clear line: essentials only.
• They echo Paul’s later counsel to focus on what truly matters, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking” (Romans 14:17).
• Adding “anything beyond” would dilute grace and fracture fellowship (Colossians 2:20-23).
• This phrase teaches restraint: if God has not required it, we must not elevate it (1 Corinthians 4:6).
these essential requirementsVerse 29 spells them out: abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.
• Each item relates either to holiness (sexual purity,1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) or to love that avoids offending Jewish believers (1 Corinthians 10:32-33).
• The dietary guidelines trace back toLeviticus 17-18, laws given to both Israelite and resident alien—showing continuity between Testaments.
• By keeping the list short and moral, the council preserved fellowship while upholding God’s standards (Revelation 2:14-16).
summaryActs 15:28 captures a timeless pattern for godly decision-making: Spirit-led discernment, communal agreement, freedom from unnecessary burdens, and commitment to a few clear, scriptural essentials. When churches follow this model, believers walk in liberty, unity, and holiness—exactly what seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.
(28)
It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us . . .--The measure was, the Apostles were persuaded, one of wisdom and charity, and they could not ascribe those gifts to any other source than the Spirit who gives a right judgment in all things. The words have since become almost a formula for the decrees of councils and synods, often used most recklessly when those decrees bore most clearly the marks of human policy and passion. Here we may well admit that the claim was founded on a real inspiration, remembering, however, as we do so, that an inspired commandment does not necessarily involve a permanent obligation. (See Note on next verse.)
To lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.--The words throw light upon the message addressed to the Church of Thyatira, "I will put upon you no other burden" (Revelation 2:24). Looking to the prominence in the Epistles to the Seven Churches of the two points of fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols, there can scarcely be the shadow of a doubt that we have in those words a distinct reference to the decree of the Council of Jerusalem. The letter does not say why these things were necessary, and the term was probably chosen as covering alike the views of those who held, like the Pharisee Christians, that they were binding on the Church for ever, and those who, like St. Paul, held that they were necessary only for the time, and as a measure of wise expediency.
Verse 28. -
It seemed good, etc. The formula is remarkable. It implies the consciousness on the part of the council that they had "the mind of the Spirit;" but how this mind of the Spirit was communicated we are not expressly told. There may have been some "revelation," similar to that recorded in
Acts 13:2;
Acts 10:19;
Galatians 2:1, etc. It is, however, generally understood as resting upon Christ's promise to be with his Church always. Hefele ('Hist. of Christian Councils,' pp. 1,2, English translation) quotes Cyprian as writing to Pope Cornelius in the name of the Council of A.D. : "Placuit nobis, Sancto Spiritu suggerente;" and the Synod of Aries as saying, "Placuit, praesenti Spiritu Sancto." And this is the general language of the synods. Constantine claimed for the decrees of the three hundred bishops at Nicaea the same authority as if they had been "solius Filii Dei sententia." But, as Bishop Wordsworth on
Acts 15:28 wisely says, "It cannot be held that councils of the Church now are entitled to adopt the words of the text in the framing of canons."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
It seemed goodἜδοξεν(Edoxen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1380:A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem.to theτῷ(tō)Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.HolyἉγίῳ(Hagiō)Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 40:Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.SpiritΠνεύματι(Pneumati)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151:Wind, breath, spirit.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.to usἡμῖν(hēmin)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.notμηδὲν(mēden)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3367:No one, none, nothing.to burdenβάρος(baros)Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 922:Probably from the same as basis; weight; in the New Testament only, figuratively, a load, abundance, authority.youὑμῖν(hymin)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.[with anything] beyondπλέον(pleon)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative
Strong's 4119:Or neuter pleion, or pleon comparative of polus; more in quantity, number, or quality; also the major portion.theseτούτων(toutōn)Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.essential requirements:ἐπάναγκες(epanankes)Adverb
Strong's 1876:Necessarily; as subst: necessary things. Neuter of a presumed compound of epi and anagke; on necessity, i.e. Necessarily.
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NT Apostles: Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy (Acts of the Apostles Ac) 
