Apostolic Council

The Apostolic Council is recounted in the Biblical New Testament book of Acts, chapter 15, and by Paul in his letters to the Galatians and the Colossians; the account in Acts and Pauls own report are from fairly different angles. Acts states that Paul was the head of a delegation from the Antiochene church that came to discuss whether Christians should continue to observe Mosaic Law, most important of which were the practice of circumcision and dietary laws. This was said to be as a result of men coming to Antioch from Judea and "teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."" (Acts 15:1). Paul later said he had attended "in response to a revelation", to "set before them the gospel (he) preached to the Gentiles" (Gal 2:2), "because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves." (Gal 2:4) It appears that he wanted to make sure that what he had been teaching to the Gentile believers in previous years was correct — that Christ's fulfilment of the Mosaic Law, death and resurrection had freed Christian believers from the need to obey Mosaic Law and "for fear that (he) was running or had run (his) race in vain" (Gal 2:2).

After much debate and discussion, Peter says that "(God) made no distinction between us (Jews) and them (Gentiles), for he purified their hearts by faith." (Acts 15:9), and James the Just states that "we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God" (Acts 15:19). They sent a letter accompanied by some leaders from the Judean church back with Paul and his party to confirm that the Gentile believers should not be over-burdened by the Mosaic Law beyond "abstain(ing) from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality" (Acts 15:29). The letter also refers to Barnabus and Paul as "our dear friends" (Acts 15:25), cf Paul's account "James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me." (Gal 2:9).

Despite the agreement they achieved at the Apostolic Council, Paul recounts how when he met Peter in Antioch not long after their meeting in Jerusalem, he berated that apostle over his reluctance to share a meal with gentile Christians (Gal. 2:11-13). Acts recounts nothing of this, saying that "some time later", Paul decided to leave Antioch (usually considered the beginning of his Second Missionary Journey) with the object of visiting the believers in the towns where he and Barnabus had preached earlier. It could be that his public disagreement with Peter was a factor. However, Paul and Barnabus then had a severe falling-out over whether they should take John, surnamed Mark (Barnabus' cousin) with them and went on separate journeys (Acts 15:36-41) - Barnabus with John/Mark and Paul with Silas. Later on there is some reconciliation - Paul mentions that John/Mark is in prison with him, and tells the church in Colosse to welcome him if he comes to them (Col 4:10).