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. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (Acts 15:5-6 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
That is, some Jews of the sect of the Pharisees, converted to Christianity, thought and taught, that circumcision, and keeping of the law of Moses, was necessary to salvation, both to Jew and Gentile Christians.
Where observe, 2. That the spirit of infallibility with which the apostles were at that time certainly endued, did not prevent the rise of controversies and disputes in the first ages of the church; nor yet silence and put an end to such disputes when risen; much less can a pretended infallible head of the church, and an unerring judge of controversies, now do it.
Observe, 3. That errors and false opinions, creeping into a church, are not a sufficient warrant to forsake the communion of that church.
We find here, that in the most primitive and purest churches, even whilst the apostles themselves were upon the spot, dangerous errors crept into the church, and proved of such fatal and pernicious consequence, that the apostle wishes they were even cut off that thus troubled them. Ga 4:12
Separation from a church, is not warrantable upon any other grounds, than that which makes a separation between God and that church, which is either the apostasy of that church into gross idolatry, or in point of doctrine into damnable heresy.
In Re 2:1-7 we read of Christ’s walking among the seven golden candlesticks: and although some of them were sufficiently besmeared, yet were they favoured with Christ’s gracious presence.
Observe lastly, The regular and prudential means used by the apostles for the suppressing of this error which endangered the church’s purity, and for quenching of this spark of dissension, which threatened the church’s peace: They gathered together at Jerusalem to consider of the matter; that is, to consult about it, and debate upon it.
Where note, 1. That though the apostles were inspired by the Holy Ghost, yet they made use of their own reason and judgment for the decision of this controversy. God’s inspiration did not make the apostles’ consultation needless, either for satisfying themselves or silencing gainsayers.