And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Read Chapter 15
Clement Of Alexandria
AD 215
And the apostles themselves, writing to the brethren at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, said: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no other burden than these necessary things, to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, from which, if you keep yourselves, ye shall do well."
The brethren of the Gentiles. Hence we see, that the letter, with the decree of the Council, only regarded those converts, who had been Gentiles; neither are they forbidden to use the Jewish ceremonies, but a declaration is made, that they have no obligation to follow the said ceremonies and precepts, as it will appear by other places. (Witham)
where the disease had its birth. Observe how they say nothing harsher (φορτικώτερον) against those men, but look to one thing only, namely, to undo (the mischief) which has been done. For this would make even the movers of the faction there to confess (that they were wrong). They do not say, The seducers, the pestilent fellows, or suchlike: though where need is, Paul does this, as when he says, O full of all guile Acts 13:10: but here, the point being carried, there was no need. And observe, they do not put it, That certain from us ordered you to keep the Law, but, Troubled you with words, subverting your souls,— nothing could be more proper (κυριώτερον) than that word: none (of the other speakers) has so spoken of the things done by those men. The souls, he says, already strongly established, these persons are ἀ νασχευάζοντες as in speaking of a building, taking them down again: displacing them (μετατιθέντες) from the foundation). To whom, he says, we gave no such commandment. It seem...
And mark with what forbearance of all harsh vituperation of those (brethren) they indite their epistle. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the Law: to whom we gave no such commandment.
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no other burden upon you than these necessary things; that ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which things if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well."
