Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. (ESV)

Verse 28 shows the correct order for blessing and progress in church life. In the first place, we need to become attuned to what is ”good to the Holy Spirit”, and then get our own hearts in tune with Him. It must become good ”to us” also. We need to lead the church with ‘God-ideas’ and not merely ‘good ideas’.

‘Notice the conjunction of the Holy Spirit with the persons who issued this letter, Acts 15:28 . Here is convincing proof that the Spirit of God is a person; that He presides in the Church; and that He is willing to become our guide and teacher whenever we are perplexed.’ F.B. Meyer

In Acts 15 we can see that a wise decision, wisely and sensitively communicated, led to a blessed outcome, in a spirit of brotherly kindness. My wife, Jilly, noted that there is a repetition of ”the brothers” throughout the passage (and also in 36-40). Let’s repeat that this was no doctrinal compromise, but a practical accommodation for the sake of Christian cross-cultural fellowship