The Jerusalem Council – JSS3 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

The Jerusalem Council was the first Christian council, held by the apostles and church elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15) to decide whether Gentiles must keep the Law of Moses to be saved.

Bible reading: Acts 15:22-35

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain why the Jerusalem Council was held;
2. state the two questions the Council had to settle;
3. describe what Peter and James said at the Council;
4. list the four rules given to Gentile Christians;
5. say why the rules were given.

What are the key terms in this topic?

These are the words a student must know before studying the Council.

• Council: a meeting of leaders to discuss and settle an important matter.
• Gentile: a person who is not a Jew.
• Circumcision: the cutting of the foreskin, the sign of the covenant between God and the Jews.
• Mosaic Law: the Law God gave through Moses, also called the Law of Moses.
• Grace: God’s free gift of favour that we do not earn.
• Yoke: a heavy wooden bar on the neck of an animal, used here for a heavy burden.

What led to the Jerusalem Council?

The Council followed the spread of the gospel from Jews to non-Jews, which worried some Jewish believers.

• Early church: in its earliest days the church was made up mostly of Jews.
• Acts 8: the gospel spread to the Samaritans, a people of mixed descent, and many received Jesus as Saviour.
• Acts 10: Peter was the first to take the gospel to Gentiles, and many received Christ.
• Acts 13 to 14: Paul and Barnabas had a very fruitful ministry among the Gentiles.
• Acts 11:1-18: Jewish believers first showed their concern about Gentiles turning to Christ.
• Acts 15: the matter was finally settled at the Council.

What two questions did the Jerusalem Council settle?

The Council settled two questions about Gentile converts.

1. Do Gentiles first have to become Jews before they can become Christians?
2. Do Gentiles have to observe the Mosaic Law after they become Christians?

Why was the Jerusalem Council held?

The Council was held because some Jewish Christians taught that Gentiles must keep Jewish customs to be saved.

• The teaching (Acts 15:1): “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
• The demand (Acts 15:5): “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the Law of Moses.”
• The problem: this teaching contradicted salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Acts 15:11).
• The result: the apostles and church leaders met to settle the matter.

What happened at the Jerusalem Council?

The Council followed an orderly sequence of discussion, testimony, judgment and a letter.

1. Men from Judea taught in Antioch that Gentiles must be circumcised.
2. Paul and Barnabas were sent from Antioch to Jerusalem to meet the apostles and elders.
3. The apostles and elders met and discussed the matter.
4. Peter spoke about his own experience with the Gentiles.
5. Barnabas and Paul told of the signs and wonders God did among the Gentiles.
6. James gave the judgment of the Council.
7. A letter was written and sent to the Gentile Christians in Antioch.
8. The Christians in Antioch read the letter and rejoiced.

What did Peter say?

Peter said that God accepted the Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, so they should not be burdened with the Law (Acts 15:7-11).

• His experience: he spoke of his work among the Gentiles, recorded in Acts 10.
• The Holy Spirit: God gave the Spirit to uncircumcised Gentiles in the same way as to the apostles and Jewish believers at Pentecost.
• His conclusion: there should be no “placing a yoke on the neck of the [Gentile] disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10).

What did James say?

James agreed with Peter and gave the Council’s judgment (Acts 15:13-21).

• Who he was: Jesus’ half-brother, who had become a leader of the church in Jerusalem.
• His judgment: “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God” (Acts 15:19).
• His advice: the Gentiles should be asked to keep a few rules, written in a letter.

What were the four rules given to Gentile Christians?

The Council told Gentile Christians to abstain from four things (Acts 15:20, 29).

Why were the four rules given?

The rules were given to build harmony between Jewish and Gentile Christians and to promote peace in the early church.

• Not for salvation: Gentiles did not have to follow the rules to be saved.
• Respect for Jews: the rules covered practices that Jewish believers found most offensive.
• Fellowship: Jews and Gentiles could eat and worship together without quarrelling.
• Unity: the church stayed one body in the first century.

What did the letter to Antioch say? (Acts 15:22-35)

The letter told the Gentile Christians of the Council’s decision and encouraged them.

• Carriers: Judas Barsabbas and Silas went with Paul and Barnabas to deliver it.
• Message: it said it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to the apostles not to lay a greater burden on the Gentiles than the necessary rules.
• Reaction: the church in Antioch rejoiced at its encouragement.
• Afterwards: Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.

What is the importance of the Jerusalem Council?

The Council confirmed that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, and it kept the church united.

• Salvation: Gentiles are saved by grace, without keeping the Law of Moses.
• Unity: a serious quarrel was settled without dividing the church.
• Leadership: leaders settled the dispute by discussion, the experience of witnesses and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• Lesson today: Christians of every tribe and background are accepted equally and should not be given needless burdens.

Evaluation

1. What was the meaning and importance of the Jerusalem Council?
2. What two questions did the Council have to settle?
3. What did Peter say about the Holy Spirit and the Gentiles?
4. List the four rules given to Gentile Christians.

Assignment

In your exercise book, write a short paragraph explaining why the four rules were given to Gentile Christians.