The debate at the Council of Jerusalem was between those who claimed that one must be circumcised to be saved, and those who claimed that one must be circumcised to keep the law.
Acts 15:5-10 (CLV)
5 Yet some from the sect of the Pharisees who have believed rise up, saying that they must be circumcised,
*besides charging them to keep the law of Moses."
6 Now the apostles and the elders were gathered to see about this matter.
7 Now, there coming to be much questioning, rising, Peter said to them, "Men! Brethren! You are versed in the fact that from the days at the beginning God chooses among you, that through my mouth the nations are to hear the word of the evangel and believe."
8 And God, the Knower of hearts, testifies to them, giving the holy spirit according as to us also,
9 and in nothing discriminates between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith."
10 Why, then, are you now trying God, by
*placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear?
Circumcision happened shortly after birth (8 days) so circumcision couldn't have been a
yoke when Peter says,
"neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear." Peter must be referring to other laws such as dietary laws and not the law of circumcision.
Paul reprimanded Peter for being a hypocrite for not wanting to be seen by his circumcised Messianic Jews eating with uncircumcised Messianic gentile converts ...
The yoke that was being placed on them,
was not the yoke of the law.
Galatians 2:11-16 (CLV)
11 Now when Cephas came to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, for he was self-censured."
12 For, before the coming of some from James, he ate together with those of the nations. Yet when they came, he shrank back, and severed himself, fearing those of the Circumcision."
13 And the rest of the Jews also play the hypocrite with him, so that Barnabas also was led away with their hypocrisy."
14 But when I perceived that they are not correct in their attitude toward the truth of the evangel, I said to Cephas in front of all, "If you, being inherently a Jew, are living as the nations, and not as the Jews, how are you compelling the nations to be judaizing?
15 We, who by nature are Jews, and not sinners of the nations,
16 having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of law, seeing that by works of law shall no flesh at all be justified."
Circumcision was probably the easiest law to follow ... so what commands, laws, statutes is Peter referring to when he says,
"placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear?"
What is the
"yoke on the neck of the disciples" to which Peter is referring? It certainly can't be circumcision as that was no yoke that the fathers weren't able to bear. Peter is implying that even the Messianic circumcised Jewish followers/disciples of Messiah Yahshua weren't able to bear that yoke ...
James 2:10 (CLV)
*For anyone who should be keeping the whole law, yet should be tripping in one thing, has become liable for all."
What "laws" do you think Peter is referring to when he says,
"a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear?"