Acts 15:1-21
Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers,
"Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can't be
saved."
Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion
with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up
to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both
Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused
great joy to all the brothers.
When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly
and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done
with them.
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying,
"It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of
Moses."
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this
matter.
When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them,
"Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that
by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy
Spirit, just like he did to us.
He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by
faith.
Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the
neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,
just as they are."
All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul
reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.
Simeon has reported how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of
them a people for his name.
This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
'After these things I will return. I will again build the tent of
David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up,
That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles who are
called by my name, Says the Lord, who does all these things.
All his works are known to God from eternity.'
"Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among
the Gentiles who turn to God,
but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of
idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach
him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
Insight- In the early days of Christianity, there was confusion among
the disciples regarding whether circumcision of the Gentiles should still be done
for them to be saved, so Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and met the
apostles and elders there to discuss the matter. Finally this is what they
decided at The Council of Jerusalem or Apostolic Council that was held in Jerusalem
around A. D. 50. Believers in Jesus Christ were to abstain
from things sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality, from what was
strangled and from eating meat with blood.
Question- Were you aware of these decisions taken at the The Council of Jerusalem in
A. D. 50? Are you obedient to these?
Prayer- Dear Father in
heaven, help me to meditate on your Word and be obedient to you at all times.
In Jesus name. Amen.
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