Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
3. Being brought on the way by the Church. Whereas, by the common consent of the Church, there were joined to Paul and Barnabas companions, who might, for duty’s sake, conduct them, we may thereby gather, that all the godly were on their side; and that they did never otherwise think but that the cause was theirs as well as the apostles.
Even the most flourishing church cannot rest secure. These Judaizers came to Antioch, the stronghold of Gentile Christianity, and insinuated themselves as friends, only to demand that new converts become Jews before they could truly be Christians. It was leaven designed to spread poison through all the Gentile churches.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 15:1-5
And being brought on their way by the church,.... That is, either being accompanied by some of the brethren of the church some part of the way, out of respect unto them, or being provided by them with things necessary for their journey; see Tit 3:13 they passed through Phenice and Samaria; which both lay between Syria and Judea; in the former of which places...