Two or three expressions of doubtful import, which occur in connexion with the history of the meeting, have induced some to infer that all the members of the Church of Jerusalem were consulted on this occasion.  It is said that “all the multitude kept silence and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul”; [84:1] that it “pleased the apostles and elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch:”  [84:2] and, according to our current text, that the epistle, intrusted to the care of these commissioners, proceeded from “the apostles and elders and brethren.” [84:3] But “the whole church,” and “all the multitude,” merely signify the whole assembly present, and do not necessarily imply even a very numerous congregation. [84:4] Some, at least, of the “certain other” deputies [84:5] sent with Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, were, in all likelihood, disposed to doubt or dispute their views; as it is not probable that a distracted constituency would have consented to the appointment of commissioners, all of whom were already committed to the same sentiments.  When, therefore, the evangelist reports that the proposal made by James “pleased the apostles and elders with the whole Church,” he thus designs to intimate that it met the universal approval of the meeting, including the deputies on both sides.  There were prophets, and others possessed of extraordinary endowments, in the early Church, [84:6] and, as some of these were, no doubt, at this time in Jerusalem, [84:7] we can scarcely suppose that they were not permitted to be present in this deliberative assembly.  If we adopt the received reading of the superscription of the circular letter, [84:8] the “brethren,” who are there distinguished from “the apostles and elders,” were, in all likelihood, these gifted members. [84:9] But, according to the testimony of the best and most ancient manuscripts, the true reading of the commencement of this encyclical epistle is, “The apostles and elders brethren.” [85:1] As the Syrian deputies were commissioned to consult, not the general body of Christians at Jerusalem, but the apostles and elders, this reading, now recognised as genuine by the highest critical authorities, is sustained by the whole tenor of the narrative.  The same parties who “came together to consider of this matter” also framed the decree.  The apostles and elders brethren were the only individuals officially concerned in this important transaction. [85:2]

In this council the apostles acted, not as men oracularly pronouncing the will of the Eternal, but, as ordinary church rulers, proceeding, after careful inquiry, to adopt the suggestions of an enlightened judgment.  One passage of the Synodical epistle has been supposed to countenance a different conclusion, for those assembled “to consider of this matter” are represented as saying to the Syrian and Cilician Churches—­“It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to lay