1 AND certain men which came down from Judaea [ side note:on a map it is up - but geographically it is down How could Joseph had know this in Book of Mormon?. They came from the headquarters of the church, whether they were sent by the spotless themselves or they were self proclaimed church leaders; they were good men and might have during some discussion among themselves determined that Paul and Barnabas are having a lot of success with these Gentiles, and things might be getting a little out of hand - they were losing the old church as they had known it. ] taught the brethren, [ The members of the church - so they decide to good first hand and teach what they thought the doctrine should be to the church. Get the church back on track so to speak. ] and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. [ These Judaizing teachers insisted on the necessity of the converted Gentiles being circumcised. What was the reason for circumcision? It was a covenant between God and Abraham and his seed "That thou mayest know for ever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old." so buy this time the Jewish teaching had become apostate enough that they had lost the meaning for circumcision - that little children are not accountable until they are eight years old. Circumcision is the code word for the Law of Moses. Why would some members of the church still focus on the old teaching, the law of Moses when they knew it had been fulfilled? Could it be that they see a lot of gentiles coming in and the church is changing and this is their way of saying wait a minute on all this change. some old traditions die hard... This is what happens when new revelation is confronted with tradition. Gal 2:1-5 Paul meets with the first presidency and quorum of the twelve before this conference was ever held. ]

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas [ Paul and Barnabas are sent by the brethren to get a reading on what is going on. ] had no small dissension and disputation [ This is a pretty big issue, it's not just small matter - unity in doctrine is required in the true church, each branch or ward cannot have a different set of standards and when the apostles cannot agree - well they need some clarification. Paul and Barnabas were fully satisfied that God did not design to bring the converted Gentiles under the yoke of circumcision: they knew that Jesus Christ was the end of the law for righteousness (justification) to every one that believed, and therefore they opposed the Judaizing teachers. ] with them, [ The men sent down from Judaea. ] they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem [ You better go to church headquarters and figure this matter out. see Gal 2:1-5. ] unto the apostles and elders about this question. [ Go make sure that what you are teaching is what the first presidency wants taught. ]

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

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. [ Even converts to Christianity in Christ’s time had trouble fully accepting Christ’s new law. The classic example of this is circumcision, so the argument is that if they are going to be believers then they need to be circumcised. Many of these Jewish converts believed that no man could be saved without circumcision and obedience to the rest of the law of Moses. They felt that salvation came through the gospel that Jesus preached in addition to the requirements of the law (see Acts 15:1–5, 24). They did not understand that the law of Moses was fulfilled, and they were now required to live the higher law. “Just as a prophecy is said to be fulfilled when the event prophesied takes place,” the sacrifices and ordinances of the law of Moses were fulfilled when the ultimate sacrifice took place. Many of the books of the New Testament are epistles, or letters, to the Saints trying to correct the idea that it is required of all men to live the law of Moses to be saved. The books of Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and large parts of several others, including Acts, 2 Corinthians, Colossians, James, 2 Peter, and Jude, deal with the issue of Christ’s commandments superseding Mosaic laws. Paul taught that “a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). The works (like circumcision) of the old law would not justify them before God; only the gospel of Jesus Christ would justify them. This is an interesting concept here, as the Pharisees try to stop change through activism, they do not realize that goes against the doctrine. Activism is not how change is designed to come forth in the Church, if it is God's church the it needs to come from God through revelation when the time is right for change. There was a great talk by Elder Corbin on this topic : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbdom9JUMWU ]

6 ¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, [ Peter is trying to keep the church together - he knows that the law of moses is done away, but realizes that you cannot move too swiftly away as you will loose a good many. The issue at hand is not really circumcision but Can the gospel be offered to the uncircumcised Gentiles or is it really limited to circumcised Israel? But Peter had already received the answer through revelation which was - that the gospel was for all men and that circumcision and all that it symbolizes was not essential; however we have some tradition to deal with and just ending it with an iron fist would case a division which was not necessary. Paul gives further discussion on this very topic in Romans 2:25-27. Many Jewish Christians were trying to get on board with this and others were struggling pretty bad. Acts 15 dealt with the troubling question of what ought to be expected of a baptized Gentile? Okay, let's say that Gentiles can come into the family of Israel. So now what? Does that mean they need to take on all the obligations of the law of Moses? Do they need to be circumcised? Do they need to start-Eat kosher. ... living kosher laws, celebrate all the holidays, Yom Kippur and Passover and everything? Exactly how Jewish does a Gentile convert need to be? And that's what they wrestled with back and forth. And if you are a Gentile convert, does that mean you're kind of a second class citizen in the house of Israel? Or are you an equal heir with all?Do we have any example of this in the latter day church? Polygamy, Tobacco...? We are all committed at various degrees. After the saints arrived in Salt Lake some wanted to move onto California with the gold and better weather, Brigham Young was pondering what he should do and one night he had a dream - he went to pick up some sheep in davis county and he saw the oddest looking sheep that he had ever seen, some were dwarfs, some were decrepit, some shaggy some clean cut... As the flock came past him he saw Joseph Smith herding the sheep and he asked Joseph what he was going to do with this most interesting flock of sheep? to which he replied "They are all good in their place Brigham, they are all good in their place" in other words not all members can make the same commitment but all are good in their place. ] and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth [ Peter is the president of the church, and as such proclaims the will of the Lord. ] should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; [ So God is giving the Gentiles who are not living the law of Moses the same, he is treating them just the same as he does us who are living the law. What gives here? ]

9  And put no difference between us and them, [ Or God is no respecter of persons. ] purifying their hearts by faith. [ The exercising of faith unto repentance (the change of character). Again for God covenant with none but the penitent (Jew, Gentile, Man or Woman). ]

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [ None of were able to keep the law of Moses to perfection all 613 commandments in the law. ]

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 ¶ Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 ¶ And after they had held their peace, James [ The brother of the Lord, a member of the first presidency is conducting the meeting under the direction of Peter. James the Brother of John has already been slain by Herod Agrippa Acts 12:2. ] answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken [ Hebrew "Shema" is translated here as hearken which means to "listen" and "obey". ] unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, [ My proposal or my recommendation is. ] that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: [ We will not require the Gentiles that come into the church to live the law of Moses. Because if the have come to God they have come to God it is that simple. What about the Jews in the future? Pauls is most likely a little perplexed here as far as he is concerned the law of moses is done away with so why should anyone be required to live it. James has spoken as a member of the first presidency - remember he is a Jew and used to living the law and because of his and the members whom he is most likely aquatinted with they will continue to live the law. ]

20 But that we write unto them, [ I recommend that they need to go through a recommend process and here are some things that they need to at least commit to do. ] that they abstain from pollutions of idols, [ This was in the ten commandments. This was given back even before Abraham. ] and from fornication, [ Another restriction that was upon all people before the days of Moses. ] and from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; [ Here we have the first proclamation by the apostles. In the church there is revelation (which is the doctrine), declaration (adds scripture. All worthy males receive the priesthood) and proclamation(the churchs stand on a given issue). ] The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 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: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, [ The first presidency and quorum of the twelve. ] to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; [ The things put forth in verse 29. ]

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. [ Signed the first presidency and quorum of the twelve. ]

30 so when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 ¶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. [John Mark was his sister's son; and a natural affection might have led him to the partiality here mentioned.]

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, [ From the greek we read it as "an incitement, a stirring up" - it does this imply anger or ill-will on either side. one should note that even though they did not agree with each other on the details - they went their ways as apostles and completed their work with the spirit of the Lord present in their journeys] that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.