Acts 15:7, commentary and pictures

God chose Peter to be the one through whose preaching the Gentiles would hear the gospel and believe. He said this at the Jerusalem council when there was sharp dispute over whether Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses and the whole ceremonial law in order to be saved and admitted to the church. His point was that God had already decided the question by giving the Holy Spirit with the same power to uncircumcised Gentiles as to circumcised Jews, making no distinction between them and showing He accepted both alike. The council therefore recognized that Gentile believers were not bound by the ceremonial law and could enter the church without circumcision. The matter was settled not by church authority but by the Holy Spirit witnessing to the testimony, giving the counselors grace, wisdom and sanctified judgment and bringing them into unity.

Council Setting and Dispute

Acts 15:7 belongs to the Jerusalem council called to settle much disputing over whether Gentile converts must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses and the entire ceremonial law in order to be saved and to be admitted to the church. It was a brief difference of understanding over circumcision, whether admission to the church should be granted to uncircumcised Gentiles, and apart from that short dispute union prevailed after the resurrection and ascension with believers all of one heart and one mind. The matter was soon settled, and through divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Its background includes Antioch in Syria, a large and growing center of missionary activity whose membership included many classes of people from both Jews and Gentiles, where Paul and Barnabas reported how God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. At the council itself Paul recounted his conversion and the work God had done through him among the Gentiles, and the Spirit witnessed to the testimony given there. The council set aside its prejudice, agreed with the apostle's position, and sent that agreement in an address to the churches.

Peter's testimony and speech came amid debate over the Gentile converts and the requirements for joining the church, declaring that God had chosen that Gentiles hear the gospel through Peter and believe. The council recognized God's favor to the Gentiles, shown by the gift of the Holy Spirit, as evidence that the question had already been decided by God, with their task to follow the Spirit's guidance. That stand forms part of the defense of Christianity at Jerusalem against the narrow restrictions of Judaism.

Some Jewish Christians remained attached to the ceremonial law and resisted the change when the council accepted that God had opened the gospel to the Gentiles. Their attachment to Jewish customs and jealousy of Paul led them to regard his principles as too lax about the law, remaining zealous for the ceremonial law. The council's decision about Gentile converts was later ignored by false teachers who urged Gentile believers to observe the ceremonial law.

Divine Acceptance of Gentiles

God made choice among the believers that the Gentiles by Peter's mouth should hear the word of the gospel and believe, choosing Peter to bring and preach the gospel to them. Cornelius's conversion was the first major step in opening the church's work to the Gentiles, who were to share the gospel's blessings equally with Jewish believers without having to be circumcised.

The event demonstrated that God accepted Gentiles as well as Jews. The Holy Spirit came upon uncircumcised Gentiles with the same power as upon circumcised Jews, showing that God made no distinction between them. Peter's vision taught him not to call unclean what God had cleansed, and Christ's blood could cleanse all from uncleanness.

The question had already been decided by God by His giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles and showing them favor, so the council's task was to follow the Spirit's guidance. The council recognized God's call of Paul to preach to the Gentiles. It agreed that Gentile believers were not bound by the ceremonial law but could enter the church without circumcision, with the Mosaic ordinances not obligatory for them.

Spirit-Led Decision and Unity

The question before the council was settled by the Holy Spirit, who witnessed to the testimony given there concerning the work among the Gentiles. The apostles and elders acted as counselors and received grace, wisdom, and sanctified judgment to decide it. They allowed the Spirit to guide the decision rather than imposing it by church authority.

The council set aside its prejudice and agreed with the apostle's position after Paul recounted his conversion and the work God had done through him among the Gentiles. That agreement was sent in an address to the churches expressing support for the Gentile work. The council reached decisions about rites and customs, including circumcision, and united in supporting the work among the Gentiles, helping bring unity among believers. Those decisions acknowledged Paul's apostolic position, and Paul complied with them in all his work among the Gentiles.

The council's decision concerning Gentile converts and the ceremonial law remained in force. The advice later given to Paul was inconsistent with it and was not prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Apart from that brief difference of understanding over circumcision, whether admission to the church should be granted to uncircumcised Gentiles, union prevailed after the resurrection and ascension of Christ with believers all of one heart and one mind. The matter was soon settled, and through divine illumination and sanctification of the Spirit the believers were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. Such unity in believing and speaking the same things is and always will be the fruit borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit in proportion to illumination and sanctification.

The chapter stands as a New Testament account of church order and unity. It is offered as a pattern for resolving difficulties without giving leaders power to command the Lord's laborers.