And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brothers send greeting to the brothers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
The apostles.
Acts 15:4,22 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…
greeting.
Acts 23:26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
Romans 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
brethren.
Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Acts 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Syria.
Acts 15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
Acts 21:3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
The apostles and elders were the recognized leaders of the early church, responsible for teaching and maintaining doctrinal purity. Their designation as "brothers" emphasizes the familial relationship within the Christian community, underscoring equality and unity among believers. This reflects the early church's structure, where leadership was based on spiritual authority rather than hierarchical power.
To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Antioch was a major center of early Christianity and the location of the first Gentile church. It was in Antioch that believers were first called Christians. Syria and Cilicia were regions with significant Gentile populations, indicating the spread of the Gospel beyond Jewish communities. This phrase highlights the church's mission to include Gentiles, fulfilling the Great Commission and reflecting the inclusive nature of the Gospel.
Greetings.
The use of "greetings" is a typical opening in ancient letters, reflecting a common cultural practice. It conveys goodwill and establishes a tone of fellowship and peace. This salutation sets the stage for the letter's content, which aims to resolve conflict and promote unity within the diverse body of Christ.
The Jerusalem church chose to put their decision in writing, then hand–deliver it through trusted men (Acts 15:22). That act shows:
• A commitment to clarity, so no rumor or confusion could distort the gospel (cf. Acts 15:2; Galatians 2:4–5).
• A pastoral concern—written words travel farther and last longer than a spoken report, guarding Gentile believers from future doubt (Acts 16:4–5).
• A model for today: whenever doctrine is at stake, the church should speak plainly and leave a record anchored in Scripture (2 Timothy 1:13).
The opening identifies two groups working in unity:
• Apostles—eyewitnesses commissioned by Jesus (Acts 1:2; 1 Corinthians 9:1).
• Elders—local shepherds entrusted with oversight (Acts 14:23; 20:17).
Calling themselves “your brothers” reminds everyone that spiritual family ties outrank titles (Matthew 23:8; Hebrews 2:11). Authority and affection walk hand in hand—leadership never cancels brotherhood.
The letter is addressed to believers from non-Jewish backgrounds spread across a broad region:
• Antioch—first major mixed congregation and hub for missions (Acts 11:19–26; 13:1–3).
• Syria and Cilicia—Paul’s early preaching ground (Acts 15:41; Galatians 1:21).
By calling them “brothers,” the council publicly affirms that Gentile converts stand on equal footing with Jewish believers, just as Peter testified earlier (Acts 15:7–9; Ephesians 2:13–19).
A simple salutation, common in letters (Acts 23:26; James 1:1), yet packed with warmth. It conveys goodwill, peace, and welcome into God’s covenant family, echoing the angelic “good news of great joy” announced at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:10–14). The gospel offers not only truth but also heartfelt friendship.
Acts 15:23 records the heading of a historic letter that settled a major doctrinal question. The church leaders put their decision in writing, spoke with unified authority, embraced Gentile believers as full family members, and extended gracious goodwill. The verse models clarity, unity, and brotherly love—all rooted in the unchanging gospel and the literal, trustworthy Word of God.
(23) And they wrote letters by them.--Literally, wrote letters by their hands. What follows, unless we assume a deliberate fraud, is clearly the transcript of a document--the first in the long list of decrees and canons and encyclical letters which mark the Church's history.The apostles and elders and brethren.--The MSS. present a singular variation of readings, some of the earliest omitting the conjunction and article before the last noun, and giving "the Apostles and elders, brethren." Such a mode of speech, however, is foreign to the usage of the New Testament, and it is probable that this reading originated in a desire to bring the text into harmony with the later practice of the Church, which excluded the laity from all participation in its synods. (See Note on Acts 15:22.)
Send greeting.--Literally, wish joy. The formula was common in Greek epistles, but is not used in the New Testament, except here and in James 1:1. As it is reasonable to suppose that this letter was written or dictated by him, its occurrence is prima facie evidence of the authorship of the Epistle that bears his name, and which, on the view taken in these Notes, had been already written to the Church of the Circumcision.
Unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles.--The letter was therefore addressed to them exclusively (see Note on Acts 15:20), as the Epistle of St. James had probably been previously addressed to the Jews of the "dispersion," and not to the Gentiles.
In Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.--The mention of the latter country is important as showing the extent of St. Paul's work there prior to his joining Barnabas at Antioch (Acts 11:25). There also he had founded churches in which Gentile converts were admitted as such to full communion. . . .
Verse 23. - Wrote thus by them for wrote letters by them after this manner, A.V.; the elder brethren for elders and brethren, A.V.; unto... greeting for send greeting unto, etc., A.V., as Acts 23:26. The elder brethren, etc. The grammar of the sentence is irregular, as there is nothing for γράψαντες to agree with. But "the elder brethren" is a phrase unknown to the Scriptures, and it is much more in accordance with the feeling of the times that "the brethren," i.e. the whole Church, should be included in the salutation. Greeting. It is remarkable that the only other place in the New Testament where this Greek salutation occurs is James 1:1.