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But in Acts 15:4, it is stated: "And when they were come to
Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and
elders.
"
Then, verse 6, "And the apostles and elders came together for to
consider of this matter." All ordained ministers are called "elders"
in the Bible. This means the lay members were excluded, but the
apostles and ordained ministers, ranked lower than the apostles, came
together in this Council.
Now we see, that even these elders were not clear on this matter
of circumcision. For, verse 7: "And when there had been much disputing,
PETER rose up" and settled the matter!
Continue, verse 7-11: "
. PETER rose up, and said unto them,
Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel,
and believe, and God, which knoweth the hearts, bear them witness,
giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us: and put no
difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now
therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples,
which neither our fathers nor we were. able to bear? But we believe that
through the GRACE (not ritual penance) of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved, even as they."
Verse 12: "Then all the multitude kept silence." PETER had
settled the question!
Right here, NOTE CAREFULLY! Peter was an Apostle--ONE SENT
FORTH proclaiming the Gospel, not a resident Pastor of a church.
James was Pastor of the Jerusalem Church at the time, though also
an apostle. Therefore James acted as chairman of the meeting-
even though PETER gave the DECISION. As a matter of protocol, as
chairman (as we would call it today), we come now to verse 13.
"And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying,
Men and brethren, hearken unto me. Simeon (Peter) hath declared ••."
in other words, acting as chairman of the meeting, James in effect
started by saying "PETER has declared"--Peter has settled it...
"how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them
a people for his name." Again, affirming Peter's primacy--for
when God decided to open salvation to the Gentiles--to CALL some
of them to salvation, whereas heretofore God had called only Is
raelites (and even them NOT to salvation, except the prophets)-
when God opened salvation to the Gentiles, He used Peter to do it!
Now continue James' speech:
"And to this agree the words of the prophets as it is written,
after this I will return , and will build again the tabernacle of
David, which is fallen down; and I will bl;i.ild again the ruins thereof,
and I will set it up: that the residue of rneri
°
might seek after the
Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the
Lord, who doeth all these things."
James was quoting from Amos 9:11-12.
NOTE THIS! The Church of God is built on the FOUNDATION of
the Apostles and the Prophets--Old Testament � rophets as well as the