The Jerusalem Council, also known as the Council of Jerusalem or the Apostolic Council, was a significant event in the early Christian Church. It is estimated to have taken place around 48-50 AD. The council was convened to address the issue of whether Gentile converts to Christianity were required to follow Jewish customs and practices, specifically circumcision. This debate was critical in determining the relationship between Judaism and Christianity as well as the future of the Christian Church. The main characters involved in the council included the apostles Peter and Paul, along with James, the brother of Jesus, who was the leader of the Jerusalem Church.
Background to the Jerusalem Council
The early Christian Church primarily consisted of Jewish believers in Jesus as the Messiah. As the Gospel spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea, Gentile (non-Jewish) converts began joining the Christian community. This raised questions about whether or not these new believers should adhere to Jewish customs, such as dietary laws and circumcision.
Biblical Timeline
In Acts 15:1-35, the Jerusalem Council is described in detail. Certain individuals from Judea came to Antioch, where Paul and Barnabas were ministering, and taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation (Acts 15:1). This caused significant disagreement and led Paul and Barnabas to go to Jerusalem to discuss the issue with the apostles and elders (Acts 15:2).
At the council, Peter stood up and recounted how God had used him to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 15:7-9). He argued that God had demonstrated His acceptance of Gentile believers by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He had to the Jewish believers (Acts 15:8). Peter also emphasized that it was through the grace of Jesus that both Jews and Gentiles could be saved (Acts 15:11).
Paul and Barnabas then shared their experiences of God working among the Gentiles, performing miracles and wonders (Acts 15:12).
Finally, James, the leader of the Jerusalem Church, proposed a solution. He suggested that Gentile believers should not be burdened with circumcision, but rather should abstain from certain practices associated with idolatry and immorality (Acts 15:19-21). The council agreed, and a letter was sent to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, communicating the decision (Acts 15:22-29).
Additional Notes
Extrabiblical References to the Jerusalem Council
The Jerusalem Council is not directly mentioned in sources outside the Bible. However, the letters of Paul, particularly Galatians, indirectly refer to the events surrounding the council. In Galatians 2:1-10, Paul describes a visit to Jerusalem where he defended the Gospel for Gentiles, which likely corresponds to the Jerusalem Council.
Furthermore, the early Church Fathers, such as Eusebius in his “Ecclesiastical History,” also reference the council as a significant event in the early Church.