Speech #9 - Acts 15:13.... James speaking to the Council

We look here upon the private council speech that James made recorded in Acts 15.

Also note the content of the letter, written to the gentle church, verse 23 and following.

Note the message they discussed in council and wrote, was also read to them out loud v31, and confirmed v32 by Judas and Silas, who were call prophets....one who proclaims God's word.

In this chapter there are 4 references to the message bring proclaimed. And later in Acts 21:25, Zpaul mentions it again.

The background was over what requirements should the gentile converts follow.

Act 15:1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Act 15:2  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Act 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.

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

The discuss pivoted around..the gospel and works.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

These passages are bookended by the word believe....

Act 15:7  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.

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

The content of the message was....

Act 15:20  📝  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Act 21:25  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Act 15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Act 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Act 15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Act 15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Act 15:20  📝  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and fromfornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.