Read it again. There was much debate and discussion until Peter spoke. The weight of his words quieted the debate and then they listened to testimony from the field. The final words were said by St James as he was the host bishop for the council. It is still done this way in the Church.
1. The Church must have its historical origins in Christ.
2. The Church must have authority.
3. The Church must have autonomy from temporal powers.
4. The Church must have a sacrifice to offer.
5. The Church must have an altar on which to offer the sacrifice.
6. The Church must have a priesthood to offer the sacrifice.Can you think of any modern institutions which qualify?
The One True Church that Jesus started!
The Orthodox Church, offcourse. ;)
Read it again. There was much debate and discussion until Peter spoke. The weight of his words quieted the debate and then they listened to testimony from the field. The final words were said by St James as he was the host bishop for the council. It is still done this way in the Church.
You got that from reading Acts 15? Amazing anachronism.
Acts 15 is great! Imagine that; Peter says we are saved by Faith.
act 15:9 He (God) did not discriminate between us and them (gentiles), for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.....
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead 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.
It's Wonderful when God brings to mind these GEMS from His Word! Praise His Name, Forever!