What is the theme of this chapter?
The Council at Jerusalem.
What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verses 7-11
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?
I can avoid sharp disagreements with other believers by placing myself in their shoes — Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil 2:4). But I can take comfort in knowing that even when I do mess up, God still "works all things according to the counsel of his will" and "for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Eph 1:11; Rom 8:28).
Additional observations/questions:
It's interesting to note that it was decided at this council that Gentiles need not be under the law, but nothing was said whether or not Jews were to continue under the law. They must have assumed that they were because as late as Acts 21:10 "they are all zealous for the law."
The Council at Jerusalem.
What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verses 7-11
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?
I can avoid sharp disagreements with other believers by placing myself in their shoes — Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil 2:4). But I can take comfort in knowing that even when I do mess up, God still "works all things according to the counsel of his will" and "for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Eph 1:11; Rom 8:28).
Additional observations/questions:
It's interesting to note that it was decided at this council that Gentiles need not be under the law, but nothing was said whether or not Jews were to continue under the law. They must have assumed that they were because as late as Acts 21:10 "they are all zealous for the law."
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