Why did Peter finally speak at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15?
Peter finally spoke because God sovereignly reminded him of the Cornelius experience twelve years earlier, when Gentiles heard the gospel by his mouth and believed. That prior work convinced him to defend Gentile believers, arguing that imposing the law was an unbearable yoke neither fathers nor they could bear.
Les explains that Peter had been silent during the first part of the controversy in Acts 15 until God sovereignly reminded him of what he had experienced twelve years before at the house of Cornelius. Peter, the good law-keeping Jew, did not really want to go to Cornelius, but God forced it for this situation, because without that Acts 10 experience Peter likely would not have come to Paul's defense. Had Peter not defended Paul there, Christianity would have stopped in its tracks, but God's sovereignty would not allow that. So after much disputing, Peter rose up and said that a good while ago God made choice that the Gentiles by his mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe. He then asked why they should tempt God by putting a yoke upon the disciples that neither the fathers nor they were able to bear, stressing that the law was a burden and a yoke.
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
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 made Peter finally speak up in Acts 15?
Peter remained silent through the first part of the Acts 15 controversy until God sovereignly reminded him of what had happened at Cornelius's house.
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.
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.