Acts 15:6-21

Resolving Conflict

The matter was placed before the apostles and elders to be considered. Quite a discussion followed. Though Peter's actions were not always commendable, as when he dissembled in Antioch, it is clear that the apostle knew the truth. He insisted that God intended for the Gentiles to receive salvation through Jesus and such was the rule of authority for the church. He reminded them that God had sent him to the house of Cornelius to preach the gospel and they were accepted on the basis of the same obedient faith demonstrated by the Jews on Pentecost. He asked why they would burden them with a law which neither they, nor their fathers, had been able to keep. In fact, he said placing such a requirement on the Gentiles would tempt God. Instead of meriting salvation through perfect law keeping, all would be saved by the grace of God. The stage was set for Paul and Barnabas' dramatic report of the miracles God had worked through them among the Gentiles (Acts 15:6-12).

James, the Lord's brother, then asked the group to listen to him as he reminded them of Simon Peter's work with Cornelius. He went on to quote from Amos 9:11-12, which he saw as referring prophetically to the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's people. So, James said he judged that they should not place legalistic requirements on the Gentiles which God had not placed on them (Galatians 1:7; Galatians 5:10). He listed four simple rules for them to follow. They were not to eat of things polluted by idol worship or participate in sexual immorality which was sometimes associated with idol worship. They also were not to eat meat from an animal that died by strangulation or the blood of animals. These last two rules actually predated the law of Moses. They were first essentially given to Noah (Genesis 9:4). Since the law of Moses was still being read in the synagogues, this served as a good means of maintaining fellowship (Acts 15:13-21).