JERUSALEM COUNCIL IN ACTS 15 DID WHAT?   

Last updated D15 M04 2023

[pw =  rejected pagan word translation]

Well ,the short answer is that Paul and Barnabas together with the elders and apostles concluded by the wisdom of the Ruach Haqodesh (pw Holy Spirit) that the apostles and elders should not lay a greater burden on the Gentile converts than these necessary things :

But can we stop there? Remember context is everything lest you be misled. One thing the Jerusalem Council was not and that is, it was not a Council of Rome!

Why The Jerusalem Council Was Held

There had been two main factors which led to the Council being held. 

1) Act 15:1  ...certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 

 2)  Act 15:5  Certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them [Gentile converts], and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

So, let's first deal with number one. These specific teachers claimed that circumcision was  required for salvation. In this context for Gentiles this is not true according to the Torah. No such command is given in Torah. This is the command:

Exo 12:48  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to Yahuah (pw the LORD), let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Keeping the Passover and salvation are two different things.  A male going to the haykawl  (pw temple) and offering the lamb would need to be circumcised . These new Gentile converts have just come to learn of Yahushua the Passover Lamb who has died for their Torah transgressions. These are Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia not Israel and they are not appearing before the haykawl (pw temple) in Israel at this moment in time.

They merely want to enter the congregation of believers or House of assembly / bet hakeneseth (pw synagogue) which would include Yahudim (pw Jews) and Gentiles and most definitely would be headed by Yahudi (pw Jewish) apostles and elders.  Those who argue and say  that they were not attending with the Jews and not going to a "synagogue" (house of assembly)  but were meeting in houses on the first day (Sunday) are seriously misled as we will show .

But what if a Gentile convert did want go to the haykawl (pw temple) and keep the feast of Passover? Did it mean that this Torah command was abolished for them and that they could attend the Passover before Yahauh uncircumcised while the Yahudim (pw Jews) must be circumcised? Certainly not.  Now some will immediately say but, Paul was a "Christian" he abolished the law he was not keeping the feasts of Yahuah. Well, that is not true either.

It is all about context. So let's get back to these new Gentile converts who want to assemble or fellowship together with their bretheren (Yahudi and Gentile alike). We know that there had been a previous contention between apostles Kipha (pw Peter) and Paul where Paul rebuked Kipha for not wanting to mix with the Gentiles in the presence of certain of the Yahudim who thought Gentile converts  were somehow  still unclean and could not be seen together with them. Again what was this uncleanness primarily based on- it would have been the same old lie that they should be circumcised. He was given the vision revealing that circumcision was not something that made a Gentile convert clean to be able to assemble and visit with them (Acts 10:28). As we have shown circumcision is not neccessary for  assembling - only for standing before Yahuah on Passover at the haykawl (pw temple) when presenting the lamb offering. Note the language in Acts 15 :28  is 

Acts 15:28  ... no greater burden than these neccessary things

In other words these are the minimum commands taken  from the Torah that are applicable for them to be seen as clean by Yahuah as new converts starting their walk. Remember this decision was led by the Pure Spirit and NOT by some so-called Christian Apostle who was just trying to temporarliy please some "Jews" Ajust so he could get his new religion of Christianity off the ground while panning to ditch the Torah all together. Anyone who thinks this is perverted. This is for the newly converted Gentiles right now to be seen clean by Yahuah first and foremost and then, yes, by their bretheren and  to equip them in their walk of salvation which is  NOT by CIRCUMCISION.  See Salvation When Does it Take Place? 

The next context we will address is the motivation behind these contentions and whether they were founded. So, lets look at contention number 2)

Now  in this sentence we will see two requirements from these Pharisees being put forward 1) circumcision and 2) keeping the law of Moses.

Now the context is that it is coming from the mouth of the Pharisees. What the Pharisees call the law of Moses is not the law of Moses ever. It is corrupted and burdened with oral tradition which inevitably ends up making the Torah void. Now where do I get this context from? Did I suck it out from my thumb? Of course not. The Master Yahushua teacher of apostle Paul gave us a true witness of this so-called law of Moses that the corrupted Pharisees present. and it was a corrupted form of the Torah.

Note how Apostle Kipha, (pw Peter) after much arguing at the Council provides context as to what this so-called "law of Moses" that the Pharisees refer to really is. He points to what Yahushua had rebuked the Pharisees for doing with Moses's law - adding burdens, a heavy yoke which they were not able to bear. They added takanot (Rabbinic traditions and prohibitions).

Act 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Kipha (pw Peter) rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago Elohhim (pw God) made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the besorah / message (pw gospel), and believe.
Act 15:8  And Elohim (pw God), which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Ruach Haqodesh (pw Holy Ghost), even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them*, purifying their hearts by moral conviction/ emunah (pw  faith).
Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye Elohim (pw God), to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11  But we believe that through the kindness ( pw grace) of the Master Yahushua the Mashiach (pw  Lord Jesus Christ) we shall be saved, even as they. 

*no difference when it comes to pure Torah versus corrupted Torah

Lev 24:22  Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am Yahuah you Elohim.

So, we ask, is the Torah a heavy burden that one cannot bear? Has it ever been? NO!  Anyone who makes such a claim makes Yahuah a liar.

Deu 30:11  For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12  It is not in shamayim (pw heaven), that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to shamayim (pw heaven), and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:13  Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Deu 30:14  But the word [TORAH] is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Deu 30:15  See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
Deu 30:16  In that I command thee this day to love Yahuah (pw the LORD) thy Elohim (pw God), to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and  Yahuah thy Elohim shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
Deu 30:17  But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
Deu 30:18  I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
Deu 30:19  I call shamayim (pw heaven) and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Deu 30:20  That thou mayest love Yahuah thy Elohim , and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which Yahuah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 

What about Kipha's statement? 

 Does this refer to the Torah?  Was "father" Abraham unable to bear the Torah? NO!

What about tribes of Israel? Could they not bear the Torah, all that Moses commanded? Was it too hard?

What about Zekaryahu (pw Zechariah) and his wife?

Luk 1:6  And they were both righteous before Elohim [not before the Pharisees's burdensome impossible laws], walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of Yahuah (pw the Lord)

And finally what about Apostle Paul himself ?

Conclusion :  The Law of Moses that the Pharisees really wanted the Gentile converts to follow was the same corrupted Rabbinic tradition of the day that Yahushua repeatedly and openly rebuked by breaking their traditions eg. they prevented healing on the sabbath (no such Torah command). So he made sure to heal on the sabbath and so on. With its unlawful burdens added to the Torah the Torah would often be made void by the Pharisees such as preventing healing on the sabbath the day which we keep to be purified by Yahuah (healing is purifying work of Yahuah). In fact healing of the heart is perfection towards salvation.  

As with today the unlawfful Talmud obstructed the Torah. There would be washing of hands and bowls, not mixing dairy with meat, 1000s of invented prohibitions and many burdensome rituals not commanded in the Torah. Circumcision had rather become an initiation into their cult of control and they eagerly wanted to apply it to Gentiles when it was not neccessary. If they could not control them then this would certainly discourage them. The Catholic church would later do the same to Gentile Torah keepers. They would add burdens to the sabbath to make it a burden in an attempt to make them follow their pagan SUNday keeping rather. 

Yahushua said :

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

The "rest" here is that rest from these burdensome Rabbinic traditions of the Pharisees and taking on the light, non-burdensome Torah which has been magnified, purified and restored just as Yahushua preached it. (Mat 5:17-20)

We are to take the yoke of the burden-free Torah not the yoke of the Pharisees or man-made religion.

Motivation of the Pharisees

The motivation of the Pharisees insisting on circumcision for Gentile converts can be seen earlier on leading up to this Council. 

Act 13:45  But when the Jews saw the multitudes [of Gentile converts], they were filled with envy and contradicted those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Act 13:46  But speaking boldly, Paul and Barnabas said, It was necessary for the Word of God to be spoken to you  [Pharisees] first. But since indeed you put it far from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the nations.

The Pharisees had shot themselves in the foot. They had rejected the Torah as preached by our savior Yahushua purged of all their traditions and now they were envious of all these Gentile converts which could accept the Torah made flesh, Yahushua, free of these burdens which they had used to try and control their own people for their own benefit unlike Yahushua who is meek and lowlfy of heart. It had backfired on them. They had been trying to keep Gentile converts out for ages by using unlawful means. They were fighting against the prophecy of Yahuah himself.

They were losing control and Yahushua the Master was reigning in the hearts of the converted Gentiles. They now envied the Gentiles' freedom in Yahuah's Torah (pw law of liberty *) and wanted to take that away.

WHY THESE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS - WASN'T THE TORAH ABOLISHED?

No, the Torah has not been abolished ( Mat 5:17-20). Besides the two contentions discussed already, spurred on by, one, false teaching on salvation and, two spurred on by envy to keep Gentiles out or oppressed under false religion,  the Pure Spirit of Yahuah also addressed a genuine and justified concern. With the sudden influx of Gentile believers who were willing and hungry for the Torah they were pagans after all and ignorant of the Torah.

Torah transgressors (pw sinners) professing to be followers of Yahushua (pw Jesus) continuing in their torah transgressions while attending the assembly of fellow converts (Yahudi or Gentile) would go against the ordinance of the assembly as Apostle Shaul (Paul) himself demonstrated when he told the assembly to eject the blatant torah transgressor amongst them. While this is addressed to the Yahudim Shaul jumps on the irony that the Gentile converts would not even transgress Torah so badly in his experience at the time. So, it makes it clear that Torah is the overarching requirement here for both Yahudi and Gentile and it has not been relaxed in any way by any Council. In any case refraining from sexual immorality (fornication) was one of the main ones listed at the Council. So we could say that these Gentiles were already obeying ath;east one of the Council's important beginning requirements unlike Christianity today which is full of adultery and fornication not just members but the leaders themselves. 

1Co 5:2  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

These minimal first requirements would be a step in line with evidence of repentance as a convert. And this would really apply to ALL believers both the Yahudi (pw Jew) and Gentile. These are, let's say, examples of first fruits toward repentance:

This would 1) show that these Gentile converts were sincere in their walk towards truth and obedience and 2) would allow for them to gather and hear the Torah being read and thus grow in emunah/moral conviction (pw faith / Fides deity). It would show that they had indeed decided to turn / teshuva / repent from their pagan ways and walk the other way towards Elohim.

Rom 10:17  So then moral conviction / emunah (pw faith /Fides deity)  cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word [Torah] of Elohim (pw God/ Gawd silver and gold deity)

If they were to be kept out completely from hearing Torah how would they learn what the Torah is and what obedience is? 

It would be similar to a company that asks you at an interview how much experience have you had in this kind of job? And you say, well, none, but I want to get experience by working  in your company and they say, sorry, we need people with experience. Yahuah is more kind and understanding than that. He tells us to begin to walk towards Him. Baby steps are the beginnig of moral conviction as draw near to Yahuah.

However there would be some concerns that it might be inappropriate for these new pagan converts to gather as they are unclean and/or morally unpure given that they may still be practising their pagan culture.  Hence we see the requirements from the Torah.  This is when I laugh as false teaching wolves like Joseph Prince say that the law has been antiquated or done away with. See : Joseph Prince the Deceiver .

If that is the case then what are the so named "Levitical laws" of Torah doing here? This would be the best  time for the Spirit of Yahuah to declare everyone clean by the blood of  Yahushua and no need to worry about any of these laws that make us unclean - eg. eating blood. Well, for starters it is not even a "Levitical law"  or "of Moses" it is primarily the law or Torah of YAHUAH himself. This Torah law was already commanded in Beresheet (pw Genesis) but it was clearly specified again later by Moses that even the Gentile must obey it since there is one law for the Gentile and the Yahudi ( pw Jew) alike as we have already shown from scripture.

It is required by a Yahudi (pw Jew) disciple to enforce or teach this Torah command for the Gentile amongst them (assembling, fellowshiping) and thus the Spirit of Yahuah brings it to remembrance. Yahushua said the Pure Spirit would do so regarding the Torah:

Thus we see parts of the ancient Torah from way back even preceding Moses being introduced to the new Gentile converts. Instead of so-called "Jewish laws" being abolished it is the opposite, we see the Ancient Ways of the Torah being introduced and taught. To not eat blood for instance may have been radically strange and foreign to pagan coverts and even limiting  to their "cuisine". Many pagans at the time were eating blood for instance. Not much has changed as many Christians still do love their abominable bloody meat or blood sausage etc. and they do not obey these minimal requirements even. Their belly is their mighty one (idol) so much so that they cannot accept these ,first basic Council teachings. They are more pagan than those in the early assembly 2000 years ago.

Was this seen as a burden to these new Gentile converts? Did they call these Torah commands burdensome? NO!

You see they were not Christians who hate the Torah. See : Do You Really Want to be Called a Christian . Rather they were converts of the Way and were hungry, zealous and ready to assemble and hear more of the Torah for truth.

Thus these requirements test the heart of the convert. The requirements commanded by the Spirit of Yahuah at the Council are a great challenge to the modern false institution they now call "church" (from root "Circe" a deity, same root for circus) instead of the" Assembly". See: The Circus Called Church. A mere sinner's prayer gets you immediately saved and you continue transgressing Torah together with your so-called "brothers and sisters" patting each other on the back saying "Jesus/ J-Zeus" loves you.

This is why people like Donald Trump can be seen as saints and believers. They have not even submitted to the first requirement of NO SEXUAL IMMORALITY. Instead we have Trump supporter and professing Christian, Kirk Cameron saying "God" has forgiven Trump while he continues unrepentant and never growing in obedience to Torah since his heart hates it at the start. He is cursed. Is it pure coincidence that Kirk's name means "church" from the pagan deity "circe"/kirk /kerk/church).

Donald Trump is to be ejected from any true assembly of Yahuah but he is not. He is embraced by Pastor Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son) and the like who knows not nor loves the minimal requirements set out in the Jerusalem Council. Neither does he know or love the rest of Torah. Billy Graham Ministries promotes the eating of snake which is an abomination in the Torah despite us warning them publicly. See: How Billy Graham Spread COVID | A Clean Family Movie Turns Dirty See: Have You Heard the True Good Message?

Every one of the founders of the Pentacostal/ Charismatic movement, just about, committed sexual immorality yet were not kicked out but remained leading their flock of goats. These are the so-called "god generals' revered today as, wait for it reincarnations of Elijah. See: Who is Elijah And Is He In Heaven?  and  Refuting Reincarnation Transmigration. It is not surprisng then that this  Pentacosta cult backs repeat adulterers such as Donald Trump who are clearly not obeying the commands of sexual immorality even within the Jerusalem Council list.

Jersualem Council Relaxes the Torah - Really??

Now Christians will submit that the Jerusalem Council shows that Gentiles only have to keep these things that are mentioned. 

This is absurd  because then they are suggesting that they are allowed to murder, kill, steal, lie and so forth which is what many are doing. It  then also suggests that it is only "Jews" that must keep those laws.

They conclude and say: the "Jewish Law"and or "Jewish Sabbath" was relaxed or abolished.  I have also heard them say the 'kosher laws' were relaxed. Note that these terms "Jewish law" , "Jewish Sabbath" and "kosher laws" are not even scriptural in any case. The law of Yahuah is for all nations and is not exclusive to "Jews" another term that is itself not scriptural. They are Yahudim and in fact all who are covenanted with Yisrael in the renewed covenant through Yahushua become spiritual Yahudim in the Common Wealth of Yisrael- one new man. See Romans.

These Christians will further conclude very indignantly that this Council decision is evidence that we no longer keep the "Jewish Sabbath", The Sabbath is a big thorn in their side. Why? It is a rest day from work and a delight as per the scriptures. How very traumatic????

Oh, wait perhaps they love their sport and entertainment on that day and they must earn their mammon on that day because Yahauh cannot provide for them if they seek his kingdom first and his righteousness. I spent about two months with a YouTuber Christian proving that the Torah has not been done away with. After that time he finely got honest  and said it was really about the Sabbath that he "could not keep". He said this is the real world and he must provide for his family by working. I warned him. Well, we know how many, including these Christians, lost their jobs which may have included working on the day forbidden to work by Yahuah when the COVID plagues came and which continue. Israel received famine 490 yeards for not resting the land every 7 as commanded. This is what happens when you make idols Yahuah punishes his children so that they repent. Listeriosis - Pork To Eat Or Not To Eat  And All Things COVID 

Now I must re-emphasise that these minimal requirements were set so that the entering of the assembly (pw synagogue) the bet hakeneseth or House of assembly could take place in the first place. So their lies fall like a house of cards. This is where prayer and study of the Torah takes place.

Question- When Did This Assembling Take Place?:

Answer:  Generallly it would be on the Sabbath day (seventh day) as commanded in Torah and practised from the beginning. Kipha even in the context and presence of the Council says this very thing:

As for prayer we see the same pattern

 Now this latter account refers to Gentile women converts  assembling after the holding of the Jerusalem Council and here we do not see women assembling on the so-called SUNday (or first day) falsely attributed to a day of resurrection of a 'Jesus' on a SUNday morning.  That is because no such pagan invention had yet been invented. That would come 400 years later and would be the result of very different causes, not a Jerusalem Council and not by the Spirit of Yahuah. Yahushua had risen already before the Sabbath end  (dusk) which is Roman Saturday evening not SUNday morning. See:  Was Yahushua Executed on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday?

Jerusalem Council Abolishes Circumcision?

No! It was still in force as we see in the very next chapter 16 of Acts when Apostle Shaul circumcises disciple Timotheus a half Yahudi (pw Jew) and half Greek. This half Gentile in Israel obviously would want to attend the haykawl (pw temple) for Passover etc. but this is outside of the context of the Council which was all about merely being allowed to attend the House of Assembly (pw synagogue).

Jerusalem Council Abolishes Sabbath?

No!

Isa 66:23  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith YAHUAH

The latter verse is a huge thorn in the side for those who claim the Sabbath was done away with at the Jerusalem Council, for Gentiles at least, even though Yahushua clearly said no law in Torah is done away with. They then must also ignore or deny  what Hebews 4:9 has said:

Here is Dr Gene Kim's video which tries to explain away Isa 66:23 as it is a huge thorn in his side since he is a SUNday keeper  and preaches Spiritual Apartheid when it comes to Torah. He profanes the sabbath and rather follows Rome.  I debunk his weak and feeble arguments.

The Jerusalem Council Reserves Jewish Law for Jews Only?

No!

Yahushua has said every Torah command still applies as he has not come to abolish any of them. We are to do them and preach all of them (as per the Great Commission) as they apply to a woman, man, child, servant, animal, food, land, worship etc. "Jewishness" does not come into it. Mat 5:17-20. 

There is one law for the sojourner and for the Yahudi (pw Jew) alike.

Of course the haykawl (pw temple) has been destroyed since 70AD and we no longer can go to the haykawl as Yahudim (pw Jews) or Gentiles so circumcision is no longer needed for that specifically. Yahushua has become our Passover Lamb once and for all as per scripture. He prophesied that the haykawl would be destroyed.

The Jerusalem Council is the Final Authority for Christians on the Law?

No!

Do they think the apostles or elders had superior authority over Yahushua our savior and Master who is also the Master of the sabbath (Mark 2:28).  How  can they think they could take away the sabbath from the appointed Master of it - Yahushua?

Do they think this Council had authority to take away any Torah command for the Gentile when it is commanded by Yahuah to be the same law for the Gentile.

Was the Jersualem Council suddenly made Master of the Sabbath? Was it able to annex its laws to the "Jew" alone? NO! The Jerusalem Council  was subject to the Torah guided by the Pure Spirit of Yahuah.

The Jerusalem Council Was Not a Council of Rome

It is only the Councils of another kind that took place hundreds of years later under the pope who thinks he has authority over the Torah which the Roman Catholic Church clearly and unashamedly claims in their writings. See : Torahless Pope - Prophesied By Daniel . It certainly was NOT the Council of Jersualem who committed such blasphemy against Yahuah and his Son.