Acts 15 Exposed: The Real Story of Christianity's Most Overlooked Decision - David Bercot
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council acts as a turning point in Christianity, marking the move away from Jewish traditions towards a separate Christian identity. The debate centered on whether new Christian converts who weren't Jewish had to follow Jewish laws. In the end, the council decided on four main rules for these converts, avoiding things like idol worship and eating blood. These rules, though specific, were a big deal, showing how the early church was figuring out its own beliefs while still welcoming non-Jews.
The council's decision came about because of a disagreement. Paul and Barnabas, who spread Christianity to non-Jews, argued against forcing new converts to get circumcised and follow all Jewish laws. This disagreement showed how early Christians were wrestling with their Jewish heritage and how to handle their growing number of non-Jewish followers. Eventually, Peter and James led the way in shifting the focus from following Jewish laws to finding salvation through faith. However, this didn't mean throwing out all rules; it meant creating a set of basic principles that everyone, Jewish or not, could follow.
The council's decision wasn't just a church meeting or a quick fix. It was seen as something inspired by God, guided by the Holy Spirit. This made the decision more than just a rule; it became a cornerstone of Christian belief, moving away from strict Jewish laws towards a more open and inclusive faith.
Some today might think these rules were only for a certain time and place, but history shows they're still important. Early Christian leaders like Tertullian and Origen saw these rules as lasting parts of Christian practice, not temporary solutions. This shows how the early church stuck to the council's decisions, and the ban on eating blood, even older than Jewish laws, dating back to Noah, further proves this point.
The council's rules also helped define Christian ethics, separating them from Jewish legal traditions. However, it's not like Christians were against Judaism; it was more about building on those traditions to create something new and universal. The council, in short, shows how early Christianity tried to be its own thing, honoring its Jewish roots while also opening its doors to everyone.
In conclusion, the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 marks a major moment in Christian history. It's the point where Christianity moves away from being just a Jewish offshoot and becomes its own separate faith, welcoming everyone and focusing on basic principles rather than strict Jewish laws. This wasn't just a random event; it shows how early Christianity grew and changed, becoming the religion we know today.
This version uses simpler vocabulary while still maintaining the main points and arguments of the original text. It also employs more informal language and storytelling elements to make the content more engaging for a college-level audience.
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Great study. Appreciate your work.
It’s my understanding the writings of the early Christian are rejected because what they wrote destroys most modern theology.
The clementine documents also have some reason why we should not eat food sacrificed to demons.
It is good to abide in the word.
Let us adopt God's culture.
I am pleased by seeing godfearing covered sisters.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Thank you for this message David.
If you do decide to speak further on food sacrificed to idols our family would appreciate teachings surrounding Halal foods and foods produced to honour other gods/religious days (as hot cross bun once were, certain Christmas foods that were made for Yule and now are incorporated into Christmas such as Yule stars and Yule log cakes etc).
I was also very reflective of the protection and provision of God in my life that although I was raised in a “it doesn’t matter” culture with regards to foods I have by the grace of God not violated these - not everyone has this same experience though and it might be helpful to have some teaching on repentance and forgiveness when we fail or for those whose parents made food choices for them.
Thanks again!
Halal is all over in Denmark. Slaughtered to a false god.
Thank you! - I personally also believe the Spiritual purpose of these commandments; In the case of blood it for example clarifies what's wrong with the Roman Catholic Eucharist, and therefore is a, flag of improper doctrine & worship. Furthermore, we see many Christians today eat things that come with wrappings like Santa Claus, Easter Bunnies, Music & Sport idols etc. without realizing what God thinks of that.
Then why did Abel shepherd animals? Please explain how Noah was the first people to consume animals.
Most Christians think they werent allowed to eat meat then, which i doubt
I agree. Before the flood, there was already a distinction made between clean and unclean animals. Why would that be unless they were already eating meat?
maybe for the wool and the milk?
@@Thoreseus_ The distinction was not made for the eating of meat, but for the sacrificing of animals, unclean were not allowed to be offered ...
@@whatistruth1914 part of animal sacrifice is the ritual eating of the sacrifice as a means of communion with God.
I have a question
No, I haven’t listened all the way through yet
But I’ve always struggled with this verse about food sacrificed to idols
But then Paul says it’s the weekend brother, who cannot eat, food sacrificed to idols
How do I reconcile these ideas?
@appointedaday-ur6st Paul doesn't teach that anyone may eat food sacrificed to idols. It appears that he is simply agreeing with the Corinthians that it's not like there is something different about that food, but he points out that making use of such a freedom would be foolish.
Paul isn't perfectly clear, and if we read him in isolation, we could assume that he meant that food offered to idols was okay, but reading him in the context of the rest of the New Testament, it's clear that that is not the case. Does this make sense? -Lynn
@@SoundFaithChannel actually no
It doesn’t really make a lot of sense
I am really big on context I agree with you with a great many things
But it does appear in context Paul literally says that eating meat sacrificed to idols is not a sin
Only that if it leads the weekend brother into sin then he would not eat meat for the sake of the weeker
I really don’t see how I can read that any other way
I agree scripture should agree with scripture
This attitude is help me understand most of scripture
It’s just this one thing I t just sticks out
I have a hard time making the two scriptures fit without squeeze in one or the other
@@SoundFaithChannel now also in fairness
I would certainly not apply that to food. Sacrificed to idols are some other thing like that today.
Because we have choices
It’s not like that’s the only meat that’s available
Another thing, Paul said that was very clear was he would ask no questions about me being put forth to him when he’s about to eat
Knowing that the meat could, and probably was sacrificed to idols
@appointedaday-ur6st I can see how you would come to that conclusion. I'll pass this on to David in case he is able to preach a message on this subject. I'll also give it some thought and potentially write a response. -Lynn
@@SoundFaithChannel thank you
Here is the answer to the question you have at 32:00 minutes, the agora or market was attached to the temple at corinth as any map of ancient Corinthian can show you. The word "in" in many translations can also mean and should properly be translated "with" the temple. Christians seen eating "with" the temple in the market place could be assumed to be eating meat sacrificed to idols, but if there was any doubt the Christian was not to be condemned as violating the law of acts 15. It may be that nearly all the food crops are now dedicated to false gods, does that mean that we cannot sancitify them by prayer? I don't think so, but eating meat sacrificed to idols "IN" a pagan temple is always wrong. May GOD have mercy!
I would very much like you to put all your sources on it.
I just heard of a woman who after eating a cookie, "blessed" by Buddhist monks seemed to have gotten a Demon at the very instant she ate the cookie and babbled nonsense for days. That is when she got her gift of speaking in "tongues".
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, I am not clear on the message. can you please give me a brief synopsis on the point of the message.... Can we eat meats or not,,,, Please explain the highlights of the message I greatly appreciate it Thanks
@andres9654 The synopsis is that Acts 15 teaches that Christians should not consume blood. -Lynn
@@SoundFaithChannel Thanks Lynn, would that be any blood product, meaning meats, animals, ect, or abstain from blood altogether, Not donate or accept blood transfusions....Thanks
@@andres9654 I'd recommend watching the video, as David discusses these issues in detail. Basically, meat that the blood has not been drained from is off limits, as well as blood products. However, most meat is probably fine to eat, since the blood is drained, as God requested, in the butchering process. Blood transfusions are probably fine, since accepting one isn't eating blood. -Lynn
Very good and based approach!
Would a snare trap like for a rabbit be considered strangled or what would be an example of what is meant by strangled?
@kjkernSerendipity I would think so, unless it merely caught the rabbit and didn't kill it. -Lynn
The Gospel is more of a sales pitch now a days than a way to live. Believing and doing.
Sadly, yes.
I have a question. So i'm Nigerian, which is 50% muslim. During Islamic holidays here our muslim neighbours give us food and meat from the ram they killed.
Now, would eating that food be considered a sin? Allah is a false god, so if i eat the food thats in celebration of an islamic holiday, would that be the same as eating food dedicated to idols?
@fugitivemoses7515 That's a really good question. My understanding is that, according to Islam, Allah is the same God as the God of Abraham, so the intention of those who offer the food would be for the food to be for the God of Abraham. And they don't worship idols, so that is definitely one good thing about Islam. On the other hand, Allah is portrayed very differently in the Muslim texts than God is.
I don't think Scripture gives us a clear teaching in this case, since it's quite different from the situation that the early Christians found themselves in. However, it's important to make sure you are following your conscience, so if you believe it to be wrong, definitely don't do it. -Lynn
Yes
Allah is not Jehovah.
So blood Is the soul?
This pastor has to completely read all the writtings of paul before making comment against other preachers about there interpretations
Oh boy, now we are forbidding meats.
The problem with reading the letters of a wolf in sheep clothing.
Hawaii still sacrifice food to idols by tradition.
🐕💚🍕... which leads us to the marterdom of Stephen
Paul preached to Gentiles who were turning to God in the synagogues. The key to understanding Acts 15 is understanding vs 21. They would learn the behaviors of God by hearing Moses read each Sabbath. The four behaviors were for admission into the fellowship.
Noahide laws condensed.
I tried to listen. Had to stop. Are you preaching a lawless Gospel to the gentiles? Simple question. Daniel and Shaul warned about this. And you have butchered vs 21. Please do not be deceived.
We aren't under the Law of Moses, but under the Law of Christ (1 Cor 9:21) -Lynn
@@SoundFaithChannel And thats where you have strayed from the Scriptures, they are the same thing. Lawlessness is Torahlessness, its that simple. You were never under the law of Moses, you were under Hashem's Word in obedience cause you loved Him. Messiah directly tells you to follow the commands of Hashem. Plenty of Scripture that directs you to it.
@GasparCortez13 "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law." (1 Cor 9:21).
Within the next week, we'll be posting a sermon that shows from Scripture why Christianity has historically taught that the Law of Moses is no longer binding on Christians. -Lynn
@@SoundFaithChannel So you are lawless? Do the prophets mention anywhere Hashem's law will change? What about the Messiah that is to come from prophecy? Was Yeshua going to stop the law or was that what you were warned about.
And thats not even close to what you are insinuating 1 Cor 9:21. Let me ask you...would he become a murderer to talk to murderers? Would he become a rapist to talk to rapist? By all means no, he defends keeping and preaching the Torah and only the Torah every time he is accused of breaking it.
I really suggest rethinking about teaching people to follow a lawless Jesus. That is not good. Yeshua even tells you to follow Torah.
@GasparCortez13 Of course this isn't lawlessness. Just like Paul, we are not under the Law of Moses, but under the Law of Christ. And no, Jesus does not teach us to follow the Law of Moses. I'll post a link to the sermon that answers that claim when it comes out. -Lynn
I have to say that for once I disagree with you. I think that many of these laws were interpretation based on ignorance. "The soul resides in blood," really? Or, because people got sick and because they believed that bad things happened when God is offended, we better not eat pork. They didn't understand about Trichinosis from improperly cooked pork. It makes sense that a compromise was made between Jews and Gentiles that is not necessary today.
@888Longball I don't believe Scripture is telling us scientific facts, but that Scripture is communicating spiritual truths. To teach us respect for life, we are taught not to consume blood.
Though some of the dietary laws in the Law of Moses may have had a health purpose, many of them clearly didn't. Their purpose was to maintain ceremonial cleanness. Of course, this was a law given long before that one, to all the descendants of Noah, so it wasn't a concession between Jews and Gentiles. -Lynn
You can't cherry pick the law. If you are invoking a Jewish law, you need to follow all 600+ Torah laws. Do you eat pork?
I really have to question how well Jesus is understood. What matters to Jesus isn't the law, it is the Spirit of the law that mattered. The spirit of the law is the Holy Spirit that should be in our hearts.
Consider driving a car. If you speed, you are breaking the law. Should you avoid speeding because there is a law or should you follow the spirit of the law (human safety)? Which is more important? I think Jesus cares about the latter. If you don't agree, you need to follow those 600+ laws. @@SoundFaithChannel
@888Longball Are you saying that we don't need to obey Jesus' commands given through the apostles? The New Testament says we do. -Lynn
It is clear that the was a compromise and the council decided. Jesus wasn't there. As a matter of fact Jesus was a law abiding Jew. He just didn't follow just a few laws. He said that he came to fulfill the law. The council says that their decree was inspired by the holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the spirit that guides us to make decisions that promotes harmony. James and the council were promoting harmony between Christian groups. With all the problems in the world, I don't think God cares what we eat. I think he want us to prevent and ease suffering, Following silly laws doesn't make us Christian. The exception being the 10 Commandments.
Moses' Law & Stone Tablets were commandments, but not all commandments are the Law or the 10 on stone. A NT commandment is to believe on Christ, but also to love (as Fruit of the Spirit). I pray these verses are edifying:
John 14;21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
Rev 14;12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Rev 22;13-15 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie."
Food sacrificed to Allah is all over in Denmark.