<p>15:6 <em>And the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter</em>- There is a distinction made between &quot;the whole church&quot; and &quot;the apostles and the elders&quot; (:22). The issues were of such a nature that they required mature discussion and decision making, but the outcome of the deliberations was shared with and agreed by &quot;the whole church&quot;. There are some spiritual issues which it is not appropriate to as it were put to the decision of mass democracy. The resulting letter was signed by &quot;the apostles and elders and brethren&quot; (:23). The idea of a private meeting of the apostles and elders may fit Paul's account of the meeting in Gal. 2:2, where he says he put the matters &quot;privately to them that were of reputation&quot;, and not publicly.</p>