Acts 15:1-35 - The Jerusalem Council

1. Theme
   1. We are not yoked by the ceremonial law
   2. We must still abstain in order to best seek the Lord
   3. Paul and Barnabas encounter some men from Judea, who are tempting the local church with a false gospel. That false gospel was that "​​Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved".
   4. The argument between them eventually escalates to the formation of the Jerusalem Council, where they would all debate these matters.
   5. This is likely the same meeting mentioned in Galatians 2, where Paul is accepted as an apostle and stands against Peter for putting Jewish requirements of the law upon the Gentiles.
   6. After admonishment of Peter and much debate among the leaders, Peter stood up and announced his agreement with Paul and Barnabas, believing the Law of Moses to be a yoke which no disciple could, or should, bear.
   7. At the same time, they find there is need for correction among the Gentile believers, and form a list of rules: "that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality".
   8. The congregation this list was sent to were encouraged and strengthened, not burdened.
   9. We should thank the Lord for the liberty He gives us, while also seeking to bless Him with our obedience.