Acts 15:2 Meaning and Explanation
“When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →After sharp dispute with these teachers, the church sends Paul, Barnabas, and others up to Jerusalem to lay the question before the apostles and elders.
What Does Acts 15:2 Mean?
Paul and Barnabas, who had watched God pour out grace on uncircumcised Gentiles, cannot let the demand stand. The disagreement grows intense — Luke calls it no small dissension — and the church at Antioch determines that the matter must be carried to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders.
It is a mark of health, not weakness, that the early believers faced their hardest question openly and brought it to those entrusted with oversight. Truth was not left to whoever argued loudest in Antioch; it was sought at the heart of the church, among witnesses of the risen Lord. When believers disagree, the way forward is still humility, honest discussion, and seeking the mind of God together.
Acts 15:2 in the Original Language
stasis (στάσις), 'dissension' -- a sharp standing apart or conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 15:2
What does Acts 15:2 mean?
After sharp dispute with these teachers, the church sends Paul, Barnabas, and others up to Jerusalem to lay the question before the apostles and elders.