After Peter finished addressing the Jerusalem Council, the assembly of gathered men sat in silence. Peter’s argument had been so convincing that no one could refute the clarity of God’s revealed will about this matter. Next, Barnabas and Paul spoke to the assembly, relating the miraculous power of God that attended their ministry among the Gentiles. Once they were finished, James the half-brother of Jesus, who was a pillar within the Jerusalem church, now addressed the assembly in Acts 15:13, urging them to listen to his counsel.
He first spoke of how Simeon (Peter) had described how God had “visited the Gentiles”, His visiting being an expression often found in the Old Testament for God’s favor on the Israelites. And God’s visitation now to the Gentiles had a purpose, James explained, and that was “to take from them a people for His name,” just as He had done with Israel … a saved remnant from among the peoples. This understanding of how God would also call Gentiles to Himself was something that the prophets had foretold in a chorus of unified prophetic voices.
Specifically, James then cited Amos 9:11-12, declaring,
After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things
known from of old.
With this additional Scriptural background in mind, James’ judgment to the assembly was that they should NOT overwhelm or trouble the believing Gentiles with overbearing adherence to the meticulous details of the law, but that they should send them a letter with some written admonitions that would bring a more holy way of living for the Gentiles as well as a greater sense of unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. The proposed letter in Acts 15:20 was to instruct the Gentiles to abstain from things polluted by idols, to abstain from sexual immorality, to abstain from what has been strangled, and to abstain from blood.
James’ address to the assembly ended in Acts 15:21 with his substantiation for these abstinences. “For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” The council was drawing to a close. In the next teaching, we will see how the Jerusalem Council acted upon James’ advice and who was sent back to Syrian Antioch. What would the letter sent with them contain? How would the Antioch church respond? What would Paul and Barnabas do next?
You can listen to this teaching on Acts 15:12-21 by clicking on the following link: Theological Crisis: Pure Grace or Grace Plus … ? (Part 2)
