Who was gathered at the Jerusalem meeting in Acts 15?
The Jerusalem meeting gathered Paul, Barnabas, certain others, the apostles, and elders, along with Jerusalem believers who accepted Jesus as the Christ. And Pharisees from the sect also rose up there in this big assembly, as recorded in Acts 15:5.
Les explains that the Jerusalem meeting was called because certain men from Judea came down and taught the Gentile brethren that unless they were circumcised after the manner of Moses they could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, so it was determined that Paul, Barnabas, and certain others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. Les notes that when they arrived, they encountered a big meeting of Jerusalem believers—those who believed Jesus was the Christ, the very ones Saul had tried to stamp out—along with Paul and Barnabas. Then in verse 5, certain of the sect of the Pharisees rose up. Les also draws a parallel to today: people still say you cannot be saved by Paul's Gospel and must do this or that, though circumcision is not used now, other requirements are.
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.
More Questions
What was the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 arguing about?
The dispute at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15 was over whether Gentile converts had to keep the Jewish law.
What did the believing Pharisees say at the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:5?
At the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:5, some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up saying it was needful to circumcise the Gentiles and to command them to keep the law of Moses.