Why did Peter finally speak up at the Jerusalem council?
Peter finally spoke because the Holy Spirit nudged him to get up and speak. He had been sitting nonchalant, taking it all in and not all that interested. Once prompted, he rose and testified that God had chosen Gentiles to hear the gospel by his mouth and believe.
Les explains that Peter had been over there nonchalant, just sort of taking it all in and not all that interested, until the Holy Spirit nudged him and said, “Peter, get up. Come on now, speak up.” So Peter rose up. He was still the chief apostle, and when he spoke, they listened. He reminded the brethren that a good while ago God made choice among them that the Gentiles by his mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. This referred to Acts chapter 10 and the house of Cornelius, where Peter and six other Jewish believers went to the Gentile home of the Roman officer Cornelius. While Peter had not even finished preaching and had not yet spoken of repenting or being baptized, the Holy Spirit came down and signified to those seven Jews that these Gentiles had become believers—without an invitation, without walking an aisle, without repenting, without baptizing. Peter was stopped in his tracks as these men evidenced salvation by faith, and faith alone, though not yet Paul’s gospel, only that Jesus was the Christ.
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.
More Questions
Why did the assembly in Acts 15 listen to Peter instead of the others?
Peter remained the chief apostle, and when Peter spoke in the Jerusalem council, the assembly listened to him.
What did Peter say when he rose up at the Jerusalem council?
At the Jerusalem council, after much disputing, Peter stood up and testified that God had long ago used him to speak to Gentiles, referring to the house of Cornelius.