Paul, Peter and James Address Conflict in the Early Church, Seek God’s Will and Unify

Acts 15:1-21, Council of Jerusalem

Various sources date the Council of Jerusalem as 15 to 20 years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Which is at least 5 years after Peter began preaching to Gentiles and over 10 years since Paul’s conversion. There had been a ton of preaching and converting going on in these ensuing years.

Paul addresses the issue

The reading of Acts 15 is pretty straightforward. Paul hears teaching that the Gentiles must be circumcised in order to be saved. He calls a meeting and they send him and Barnabas along with the ‘certain people’ who had been teaching to Jerusalem to settle this disagreement. Paul heard something that disturbed him, and he addressed it. He addressed it first with the group that had heard the contrary teaching and moved to address it as a church at large, in Jerusalem. Paul could have gotten offended and kicked these teachers out, telling them not to come near him. He could have counselled them and looked at the scriptures with them and then sent them on. Instead he addressed the issue at the root, where the teaching [problem] came from. Off he and the accompanying group go to Jerusalem, where Paul tells the council members all that has gone on.

Naturally there was ‘much discussion’ when someone from the Pharisee party stood and said that these folks must be circumcised. Ah, the exact issue that Paul and friends had come to address. Based on what we know of the Pharisees and the other groups of the time, I can only imagine the chaos that ensued. Can you imagine the ‘discussion’? Paul is not the person who presents the problem, he understood that it would come up naturally since it was clearly a strongly held belief by those ‘certain people’ who were teaching.

Peter presents evidence of God’s desire on the issue

Surprisingly, it is Peter who issues a mature and well-considered response. (Wow – yes, it is Peter, no longer impulsive but a thinker! God works!) Peter presents evidence of God’s desires in this situation. He gives personal examples of teaching Gentiles, like Cornelius, and he draws on scripture of God knowing the heart and having sent the Holy spirit as a seal, a sign of his presence and anointing. Paul then supports the evidence as relevant in what God has done among the people that they have taught. Peter had experience and scripture to base his comments on. How often do I spout with my emotion and not the scriptural basis for my opinion!? I find that Peter in this part in Acts really is a changed man; Christ has made him more Christ-like, sanctified him. That is so encouraging.

James unifies the parties

Finally, James stands up and unifies the parties in what to teach to the Gentiles. James draws the conclusion that the group had apparently come to and then moved them to act on a cause which would unify them. If the Gentiles don’t need circumcision, then what do they need, and he made a proposal to encourage and instruct the Gentiles in areas of agreement. James leads the group to a positive outcome of the dispute.

Relationship of Trust

I think one person could do all of these too. It doesn’t take three. But wow, it is a great thing to see how God set out this solution to a potentially explosive issue. I was also reminded of the previous time that Paul went to Jerusalem when looking into the Council. In Galatians 1:18-19, Paul tells us that he went to Jerusalem after his instruction from Jesus. Guess who he met! Peter and James. I think there was an underlying trust between the men that smoothed over any initial circumspect ideas and prejudices against Paul, one who hadn’t followed Jesus as the others had. This too likely helped clear Peter’s thoughts from criticism and emotion. The relationship of trust and certainty of one another’s love of God and knowledge of Jesus was likely the bond that made this peacemaking session a success.

Isn’t this amazing: God’s hand is in all of this as I look over it again. He is with us and moves within our problems and solutions in ways we could not imagine. Like these three men, we have to address it, seek God’s will, and unify the parties to make peace.