The apostles and the elders convened a gathering to consider this matter. And after extended debate, Peter rose to make the following statement, "Brothers, you know from the earliest days about God's choice made in your midst; that meant the Gentiles would hear via my mouth the word of the gospel and believe it. And God who is the One who knows the heart bore witness by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he had to us; and he made it so that there was nothing to distinction between us and them, but by faith cleansed their hearts. Now therefore why do you want to put God to the test by placing on disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor ourselves have been able to endure? But it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in whom we believe, that we are saved in the same way as they are." And the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what God done through them by the signs and wonders among Gentiles. After hearing them out, James responded, "Brethren, listen to me. Simeon has related how God, from the outset, has visited Gentiles, taking out from them a people for his own Name. This view is in agreement with the words of the prophets, namely, 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, along with all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who has made these things known from ancient times.' Therefore my judgment is that we must not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood. For Moses since earliest generations Moses has had those who have proclaimed him in every city in the synagogues, when he is read every Sabbath."
In a Nutshell
The council in Jerusalem heard Peter's introduction. Paul and Barnabas reported on their journeys. Finally James, the brother of Jesus, affirmed the work they had done.
Questions
What kind of meeting was it. Did they really need to meet? Why?
In the Council, Peter, then James, confirmed the validity of what Paul and Barnabas had done in setting up Gentile churches. By this time Peter was 'on side' with Paul. There is nothing here to suggest he wanted to have it both ways. It is important to note that a period of time has elapsed between Peter's visit to Cornelius, his visit to Antioch and confrontation with Paul (as described by Paul in Galatians 2), and the sending out of Paul and Barnabas by the church at Antioch.
But there is another struggle going on here. It concerns the
place of Jerusalem in the developing network of churches. This meeting was
convened in Jerusalem since that is where the Apostles were located. They would
not be there for ever. They were men just like everyone else in the church. But
the issue is also about the action of the Antioch church in sending Paul and
Barnabas to preach the gospel in Gentile regions. Were they allowed to do that?
Did they have to have prior authorisation from the Apostles to do that? Notice
how, despite going up to Jerusalem to resolve the matter, Paul and Barnabas
continue to give their reports in Phoenicia and
Samaria as they travel. They take every opportunity to pass on the
news because it is also part of the Good News about Jesus.
Peter and James, Jesus' brother and leader of the Jerusalem church, endorse the work done by Paul and Barnabas. Not only were they right to continue to sow the seed in Gentile fields. The action of the Antioch church is endorsed. They had pioneered the wholehearted sharing of the Gospel with Gentiles. This continued the Lord's work; the apostolic way was to wait upon the Holy Spirit for His guidance and that is what Antioch had done.