16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.What exactly do you use sola interpretura to interpret in that? Peter was in Jerusalem, the see of Bishop James (i.e. James was responsible for what's going on in Jerusalem). Peter escapes, thanks to the Lord. Peter then says "Tell James and the brothers about this" --> duuuuuuh
13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. <14Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: 16" 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'[b] 18that have been known for ages.[c] 19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." Nice -- this is where James echoes what Peter says in Acts 15: 7 to 12:
7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother.duuuhhh naturally again -- JAmes is in charge of Jerusalem. When Paul comes to Jerusalem he needs to pay his respects to the guy in charge IN JERUSALEM, namely James. When the President comes to San Fran, he pays his respects to the Mayor.
You should also point out to your friend that Acts 15 disproves the doctrine of sola Scriptura. If Peter would have relied upon the Scriptures, he would have concluded that Gentiles had to be circumcised, since all the Patriarchs and prophets were, the apostles were, and even Jesus was. But Peter, by virtue of his authority, decides the issue as the chief shepherd of the Church (and the decision was not based on the Scriptures).
James is NOT referred to as Bishop. That is your wording, not God's Word. Or your Church's wording to be exact.
Just what IS your point of Acts 15: 13-21? So now you are saying that James was INDEED in charge of the Council of Jerusalem? And Peter..what...?? Tell me again what you think Peter did at that council? Was he in charge? Did the other apostles give him the final say? Did they believe he was the Pope? And in charge of them all? What are saying?? I'm really trying to follow you. And I will listen, very closely, if you will tell me just what you think transpired there.
You do understand that sola scriptura believers believe that the New Testament is part of the scriptura right? Wow...Peter's words and teachings under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit actually BECAME Scripture! Is God great or what???!!!