Was Peter still the chief apostle when he spoke at the Jerusalem council?
Yes. The account states that when Peter rose up and spoke at that gathering, he was still the chief apostle. He testified that God had chosen that the Gentiles should hear the gospel by his mouth and believe, referring back to the house of Cornelius.
Les teaches that Peter had been sitting there nonchalant, taking it all in and not all that interested, until the Holy Spirit nudged him and told him to get up and speak. So Peter rose up, and Les emphasizes that Peter is still the chief apostle, and when Peter spoke, people listened. Peter reminded them 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. That referred to Acts 10, the house of Cornelius, when Peter and six other Jewish believers went to the Gentile home of the Roman officer Cornelius. Before Peter had even finished preaching, or said a word about repenting and being baptized, the Holy Spirit came down and signified to those seven Jews that these Gentiles had become believers. It happened 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—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
What caused Peter to rise up and speak at the Jerusalem council?
Peter rose up and spoke only after the Spirit of God woke him up, not at the start of the debate.
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.