The main issue was whether Gentile believers had to keep the Law of Moses and be circumcised to be saved.
The Jerusalem Council centered on a dispute over whether salvation required adherence to the Law of Moses, including circumcision, or whether it was by faith alone. Les Feldick explains that the council was called to settle whether Gentiles could be saved without keeping the Law and without being circumcised. The issue was resolved when Peter reminded the council that God had saved Gentiles at the house of Cornelius without such requirements.
Acts 15:5 — This verse directly states the demand that Gentiles be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses.
Acts 15:12 — This verse shows the council hearing testimony of God's work among Gentiles, which helped settle the issue.
The Book of Acts recounts that the Jerusalem Council was convened because certain believers from the sect of the Pharisees insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to keep the Law of Moses (Acts 15:5). The council listened to Peter, who reminded them that God had chosen to save Gentiles by faith apart from the Law, as seen in the household of Cornelius (Acts 15:12, referencing Acts 10). This evidence led to the conclusion that God was saving Gentiles without requiring them to become proselytes to Judaism.
Les Feldick teaches that the Jerusalem Council, which he places around 51-52 A.D., was a meeting called to settle the issue of whether Gentiles could be saved without keeping the Law of Moses and without practicing circumcision. He emphasizes that the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, including the twelve, were still steeped in a law-based mindset, while the Gentile believers were saved by grace through faith. Les highlights that even believing Pharisees insisted that circumcision and the Law were necessary for Gentiles, showing the tension between the law-based Jewish church and the grace-based Gentile ministry of Paul. He also points out that the council was won over when Peter recalled how God had visibly saved Gentiles at the house of Cornelius without any need for them to become Jewish proselytes.
The debate at the Jerusalem Council involved Paul, Barnabas, and certain believers from the sect of the Pharisees who had embraced Jesus as the Messiah. These believing Pharisees argued that it was necessary to circumcise Gentile believers and command them to keep the Law of Moses. Peter also defended the Gentile believers, and James, the half-brother of Jesus, moderated the meeting.
The outcome was that the council, after hearing Peter and the testimony of Paul and Barnabas about God's work among the Gentiles, concluded that God was saving Gentiles without requiring them to keep the Law of Moses. This allowed Paul and Barnabas to return to their Gentile ministry.
The Demand for Circumcision
Les describes how believing Pharisees at the council insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses.
The Purpose of the Council
Les explains that the council was called to settle whether Gentiles could be saved without keeping the Law and without circumcision.
Law vs. Grace Tension
Les highlights the contrast between the law-based Jerusalem church and the grace-based message to the Gentiles, and that the council was called to reconcile the two.
Paul Summoned
Les notes that Paul was called to Jerusalem to answer the claims of those who wanted to impose Judaism and circumcision on him.
Peter's Defence and James Moderating
Les points out that Peter defended Paul, citing Cornelius, and that James, not one of the twelve, moderated the council.
Paul's Dissension
Les describes how Paul and Barnabas argued against putting circumcision and legalism on Gentile believers, leading to the trip to Jerusalem.
Peter Recalls Cornelius
Les emphasizes that Peter's testimony about Cornelius opened eyes to the truth that God saves Gentiles without requiring Jewish laws.
Why the First Christians Were NOT in Jerusalem (Acts 11)
The Jerusalem Church has been holding forth already for 12 years. The Bible never calls them Christians, I've said it on the program before. Never does the Bible call the Jewish believers at Jerusalem and Judea Christians. They were under the Judaistic umbrella.
Acts 15:5: 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.
This verse records the demand made at the council that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Law.
Acts 15:12: Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
This verse shows the council hearing Paul and Barnabas's testimony, which contributed to the decision.
The Jerusalem Council was a meeting of apostles and elders in Jerusalem, around 51-52 A.D., called to decide whether Gentile believers had to keep the Law of Moses and be circumcised. Les Feldick explains that it was held to settle the issue of salvation by grace versus faith plus law.
It happened because some believing Pharisees insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Paul and Barnabas disagreed, and the matter was referred to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for a definitive decision.
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