Acts 15 question

[CanIHunt]

In Acts 15, would you say the advice of James was followed or that of Peter or both?

 

[bibledoctrine]

Acts 15 parallels with the book of Galatians (see verses Gal. 2:1-7). The most important thing to be understood about the book of Acts is that this book is a chronicle about Israel after the resurrection of our Lord Christ Jesus. This chronicle also outlines the Holy Spirit's ministry concerning Israel. The purpose of Acts chapters 9 thru 28 is to show how salvation was being sent to the Gentiles. The purpose of Acts chapters 1 thru 7 is the demonstration of the "stumbling" of Israel for unbelief and rejection of their resurrected Messiah. Only the "little flock" followed and believed in the resurrection, primarily before Acts 7. In Acts 8 God the Father is introducing to Peter that He is now recognized that Israel has "stumbled" and that now He is revealing to Peter that the Gentiles are not "unclean" and that He is now revealing His grace to the Gentiles through Paul and Peter and Barnabas and those who follow God's apostle Paul. The book of Acts was specifically designed to properly put a knowledge about God's dealing with Israel, the Israel of God, and now beginning to reach out to the Gentiles, of whom most believer saints within the church are, e.g., uncircumcision.

Acts introduces a change by God in who He is dealing with - namely, from Jew to Gentile. It is not surprising that we find the book of Acts after the Gospels but before the epistles of Paul, with the book of Romans immediately following Acts.

When we arrive at Acts 15, we must recognize that Galatians is the parallel event that identifies why "certain men which came down from Judaea". These men were identified as Judaizers in the epistles of Paul (God's Word, not Paul's word). The Jewish leaders, James, now recognized that a change had was taking place because Gentiles were being give the Grace of God. But being trained as Jews, they wanted to ensure that the Gentiles do practice the Mosses Law about circumcising them (v.15:5). This is the reason of the "no small dissension and disputation with them" (v.15:2) which Paul and Barnabas withstood the Judaizers from Jerusalem. Peter was serving as a witness for Paul and Barnabas as these men withstood the Judaizers from Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas were the leaders sent by God for the Grace of God to the Gentiles. Peter had been corrected by Paul in Galatians 2:9-16: the gospel of the circumcision was committed unto Peter (Gal. 2:7); while the gospel of God's grace for the uncircumcision was committed unto Paul (Gal. 2:7). This is why there was a large dispute by James and the Judaizers in Jerusalem. Peter, having been a former leader in Jerusalem with the "little flock" that believed Christ Jesus, was there with Paul and Barnabas to support evidence of God's grace now being dispensed to the Gentiles.

When you read both Acts 15 in context and keep in mind Galatians, particularly chapter 2:1 - 2:21, then you will understand that Acts 15 was neither about James final advise nor about Peter's final witness for Paul and Barnabas, but the focus of the chronicled events in Acts 15 / Galatians 2 was about God sending the grace message to the Gentiles: God is credited with this increase, not men.

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

 

[CanIHunt]

I thank you for your response. I have seen this as an example that Peter does not have the papal authority that Catholics believe. The writer I read said this council did not follow Peter's advice. But I do not read it that way. Was curious if anyone else reads it that way and what I am missing if so. Thank you.

 

[CanIHunt]

i am going to stop monitoring this thread now. thank you