The Apostolic Council of Jerusalem; Acts 15:1 – 21 and Galatians 2:1-10 – Part 4

Church History: Date: A.D. 49-50
They came down from Judaea to Antioch, and to the regions adjacent, which had been visited by the apostles. Judea was a high and hilly region; and going from that toward the level countries adjacent to the sea, was represented to be descending or going down. Their mission was to convince the new Gentile believers of the necessity of keeping the laws of Moses. Circumcision was the leading or principal rite of the Jewish religion. It was indispensable to the name and privileges of a Jew. Proselytes to their religion were circumcised as well as native-born Jews, and they held it to be indispensable to salvation. It is evident, from this, that Paul and Barnabas had dispensed with this rite in regard to the Gentile converts, and that they intended to found the Christian church on the principle that the Jewish ceremonies were to cease. When, however, it was necessary to reconcile the minds of the Jews and to prevent contention, Paul did not hesitate to practice circumcision, (Acts 16:3).