22.The Synod decreed binding injunctions
The Synod decreed binding injunctions upon the Presbyteries and their Churches "Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church, to send chosen men at their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; (namely) Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas Chief Men [or Andres Heegoumenous alias ’Ruling Men’] among the brethren," Acts 15:22. Thus too Owen (XXIII:420f).
"They wrote letters for them after this manner: ’The Apostles and Elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren which are from the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia! Forasmuch as we have heard that certain [men] who went forth from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ’You must get circumcised and keep the law’ to whom we gave no such commandment it seemed good to us, being assembled, with one accord to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have risked their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have thus sent Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth." Acts 15:23-27. Here, the Synod then resolved to write to the Presbyteries of Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. It resolved further, also to choose Delegates and then to send those chosen Delegates to those Presbyteries. Those Delegates from the Synod would then also orally assure those Presbyterial Courts and their Congregations of the mind of the Synod anent several important matters. The Synodical Letter then continued: "’It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than [all of] these necessary things; that you abstain from foods offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which, if ye keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare well!’" Acts 15:22b-29.
Here, the Synod assured Gentile Christians in those Presbyteries that the Holy Spirit did not wish to burden them with any necessity of their being circumcised after the manner of Moses. However and what is often overlooked the Synod also assured those Gentile Christians that "it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and [therefore] to us" that it was indeed necessary for them to observe certain essential practices.
Such were the "necessary things" of God’s Moral Law, viz.: ’you shall not make for yourself any graven image!’; ’you shalt not murder!’; ’you shall not commit adultery!’ etc. For that Moral Law is Pre-Mosaic and indeed part and parcel of both the Adamic and the Noachic Covenants which God still enjoins all men everywhere to observe. See: Gen 2:17f;
Gen 9:1-12; Ecc 7:29; Hos 6:7f; Mat 19:17-19; Rom 2:14f; Rom 13:8-10; Jas 2:8-12.