Last week, we considered the problem that came to the church at Antioch when Jewish teachers from Jerusalem, without any authority, began to teach the gentiles that they must submit to the Mosaic custom of circumcision in order to be saved. Paul argued that they were wrong and that the gentiles did not need circumcision to be included in the covenant household. When the debate reached an impasse, the church sought resolution from the elders in the church of Jerusalem.
After considerable discussion at Jerusalem, Peter stood and rehearsed the occasion of his being sent by the Spirit to the house of Cornelius, a Roman God-fearer, but uncircumcised gentile. Before Peter finished his speech, the Holy Spirit fell on the gentiles as He had fallen on the Jews at Pentecost. Peter saw that this set a new precedent and that believing gentiles should not be subject to a burden Jews could not bear. Paul and Barnabas followed with supporting testimony showing that God confirmed this with signs and wonders.
James summarized the matter and appealed to Amos 9:11, 12 to show that Scripture shores up their conclusion. The question, however, is how this text supports this. James and the elders understood the context of Amos to teach that gentiles did not need circumcision. This message explains how the understood this.
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