Acts 15:12–21

It was not enough that God save only the Jewish believers in Christ. Christ came to save ALL those who would believe in Him. Only by the grace of God are we saved!

John 3:17 for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that through Him the world could be saved!

Here’s my proposal: consult Jesus. Saturate your day in his grace. Entrust your day to his oversight. Apply his direction. Grace. Oversight. Direction. G-O-D. Fill your day with God, and give the day a chance. Max Lucado

But there are two things that do not change: 1) Apart from Jesus, we can never be truly good on our own. 2) God's goodness and love are always and forever immeasurable. Remembering those constants will help us walk in Truth through any circumstance of life, rain or shine. First5

grace (Gk. charis) (15:11; Rom. 3:24; 5:15; Eph. 2:5; Titus 2:11) Strong’s #5485: The Greek word for grace is probably equivalent to the Hebrew word chesed meaning “lovingkindness,” a word frequently used by the psalmists to describe God’s character. In the New Testament, the word charis usually means divine favor or goodwill, but it also means “that which gives joy” and “that which is a free gift.” This is a noteworthy occurrence of the word grace, because while it was one of Paul’s favorite words for God’s free gift of salvation, here we see Peter using it in the same way. 

Acts 15:12–21

12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: 16 ‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’ 18 “Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” The New King James Version

Each of the four practices mentioned in this verse took place regularly in Gentile culture and worship and were condemned by Jews as unclean. Faithlife Study Bible

Barnabas and Paul reported what God was doing in changing the lives of Gentiles with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their testimony at this council was critical. The council listened to James because he was the first of the three pillars of the church. He was the leader of the church in Jerusalem until he was stoned to death at the insistence of the high priest in a.d. James was the Lord’s half brother, the one who did not believe until the Lord appeared to him privately after the Resurrection. 

While the testimony of Peter, Barnabas, and Paul was important for the council in making their decision, something more than the experience of the Gentiles had to be taken into consideration. The council needed to know what the Word of God said. James pointed out that what was happening among the Gentiles was in full agreement with the Old Testament (Amos 9:11, 12). 

The testimony of Paul and Barnabas—those who worked among the Gentiles—and most importantly the teaching of Scripture, indicated to James that God was truly at work. In view of this, he suggested that a letter be drafted that alleviated Jewish requirements for Gentiles who placed their trust in Jesus. 

Though James did not want to trouble Gentiles with Jewish ceremonial regulations, he believed certain practices should be followed. He mentioned four issues: eating food offered to idols, sexual immorality, eating food from animals that had been strangled, and eating food with blood. If Gentiles continued such practices, there would continually be tension between the Gentile and Jewish Christian communities.

James may have been saying that since there were Jewish communities in every city, it would be wise to remain sensitive to Jewish convictions. He may also have been saying that since the Gentile believers would learn more and more about the Scriptures, the Spirit of God would cultivate godly convictions in their hearts. The NKJV Study Bible

Amos 9:11 

“On that day I will raise up

The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down,

And repair its damages;

I will raise up its ruins,

And rebuild it as in the days of old;

Amos 9:12 

That they may possess the remnant of Edom,

 And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,

”Says the LORD who does this thing.

Revelation 2:14 

But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:20 

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.