Who was the Acts 15 controversy between?
The Acts 15 controversy was between Peter and the eleven at Jerusalem, along with the Pharisaic believers who insisted Gentiles be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, and Paul with Barnabas, who defended salvation for Gentiles apart from Judaism.
Les explains that Acts 15 records the big controversy between Peter and the eleven down at Jerusalem and Paul, who was dealing with Gentiles up at Antioch. The issue was whether Gentiles could have salvation apart from Judaism, without circumcision and without being commanded to keep the Law. Certain Pharisees who believed said it was needful to circumcise the Gentile believers and to keep the Law of Moses. Paul refused that message. A great confrontation and argument followed, and Peter finally came to Paul’s defense, remembering about fourteen years earlier at the house of Cornelius that God would save a Gentile without Judaism, without repentance and water baptism.
Who were the believing Jews in Acts 15 who opposed Paul?
The believing Jews who opposed Paul in Acts 15 were Jewish believers from Jerusalem, distinct from Pharisees, who had embraced Jesus as Messiah yet remained law-keeping. They came to Antioch and resisted Paul's Gentile ministry, holding that no one should go to the Jews unless they had the King and the Kingdom.
What was the controversy in Acts 15 between Peter, the eleven at Jerusalem, and Paul?
The controversy in Acts 15 centered on whether Gentiles could be saved apart from Judaism. Paul taught Gentile believers had salvation without circumcision and without keeping the Law. Pharisees at Jerusalem insisted Gentiles must be circumcised and keep Moses' Law. This produced a great confrontation, until Peter defended Paul by recalling Cornelius.
More Questions
What was the big controversy in Acts chapter 15?
Acts 15 records the major controversy between Peter and the eleven at Jerusalem and Paul over his ministry to the Gentiles at Antioch.
Why was Paul called to the Jerusalem council in Acts 15?
Paul's preaching and taking the gospel to the Gentiles while he was at Antioch stirred up the Jerusalem believers, so they summoned him to Jerusalem for the Acts 15 council.
What had Paul done among the Gentiles by the time of Acts 15?
By Acts 15 Paul had already spent several years working among the Gentiles and had established churches in Asia Minor, especially in Antioch.
Are Acts 15 and Galatians 2 parallel accounts of the same event?
Acts 15 and Galatians 2 are parallel chapters that both record the same event, the Jerusalem council.