“So show me how it’s taken out of context. The context is that the disciples were discussing putting the gentiles under the law like Catholics try to put people under the law.”
THE ABOVE IS NOT WHAT YOU, CYNICALBEAR FIRST STATED!!!!
CynicalBear previously posted:
KJV Bible:
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us. 9 He made no DISTINCTION between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
CB said, his private interpretation:
Notice that “no DISTINCTION” between the apostles and the lay? The RCC claiming “without any God given authority” applies to anyone but the Vatican is total nonsense and contradicts the clear teaching of scripture.
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You didn’t include the verses surrounding, people would see you took out of context, the fruit, you misinterpreted the two verses. That is not what those verses are talking about. Who is the “us” and the “them” in Acts 15:8? What is the “DIFFERENCE” Peter is speaking of? I wasn’t sure so I looked it up.
It’s not the difference between the authority of the Apostles, the first priests and your term the “lay” people. Peter was talking about a disagreement, some believed everyone should be circumcised, Gentiles too. Peter set them straight because of His authority. If you take into context all of the verses, you see in verse 7 Peter speaks of God’s choice, giving Peter the authority, “by my mouth”, the Gentiles should hear the Gospel. Peter, the first Pope.
p.s. The Gospel was changed, the word in the KJV is
Distinction. “Difference” and “Distinction” do not mean the
same. Wonder why King James’ translators would use another
word? They also changed “priests” to “elder” in Acts 15:2, Protestantism has no priesthood, the obvious change.
+ + +
* [15:1–35] The Jerusalem “Council” marks the official rejection of the rigid view that Gentile converts were obliged to observe the Mosaic law completely. From here to the end of Acts, Paul and the Gentile mission become the focus of Luke’s writing.
* [15:1–5] When some of the converted Pharisees of Jerusalem discover the results of the first missionary journey of Paul, they urge that the Gentiles be taught to follow the Mosaic law. Recognizing the authority of the Jerusalem church, Paul and Barnabas go there to settle the question of whether Gentiles can embrace a form of Christianity that does not include this obligation.
* [15:6–12] The gathering is possibly the same as that recalled by Paul in Gal 2:1–10. Note that in Acts 15:2 it is only the apostles and priests, a small group, with whom Paul and Barnabas are to meet. Here Luke gives the meeting a public character because he wishes to emphasize its doctrinal significance (see Acts 15:22).
* [15:7–11] Paul’s refusal to impose the Mosaic law on the Gentile Christians is supported by Peter on the ground that within his own experience God bestowed the holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household without preconditions concerning the adoption of the Mosaic law (see Acts 10:44–47).
Acts 15:1-10
A dissension about circumcision. The decision and letter of the council of Jerusalem.
[1] And some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. [2] And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the other side, should go up to the apostles and PRIESTS to Jerusalem about this question. [3] They therefore being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. [4] And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them. [5] But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.
[6] And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter. [7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. [8] And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us; [9] And put no DIFFERENCE between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/act15.pdf
The word translated *elder* is *presbuterous*.
It is not the Greek word for *priest*.
That word is *hiereis* as in Acts 4:1.
http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/act4.pdf
Do you see that phrase stpio? The phrase “granting them the same spirit” was talking about the Holy Spirit. They were no longer to be kept “under the law” and that Holy Spirit” gave them the same freedom from the law and the same Holy Spirit that gave the apostles understanding gave the people understanding. The Bereans were commended in Acts for “interpreting” scripture because that is where they were going to “see if these things were true” which the apostles taught. The Bereans were commended for proving the teachers were right by going to scripture just as we are to prove the RCC or any other who would deem to teach us. It’s the indwelling of the “same Spirit” and the scripture which we are given to “interpret” the correctness of those supposed teachers.
>>Peter set them straight because of His authority.<<
Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Who was it again who said My sentence is?
Don’t give me that error from the CC that Peter was the leader. If he was it would have been him who made the final decision.
>> Council of Jerusalem, called by Peter<<
How about we read scripture before we believe that RCC error?
Acts 15:1 And 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 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they (Who? certain men) determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them (Who? Some of the certain men), should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
It was not Peter who called the meeting. It was the “certain men who decided they should go to Jerusalem to meet with all the apostles to decide. Peter spoke at that meeting as did Barnabas and Paul, it was then that the leader of the group, James made the decision and said wherefore my sentence is. There is no way anyone could conclude from that passage that Peter was in a leadership position in any way. It’s another lie from the RCC.
The entire basis of the hierarchy of the RCC is built on a lie. As a matter of fact they cannot prove that Peter was ever the bishop of Rome let alone the first Pope. Paul wrote to the Romans and never once mentioned Peter being there. No one did. He was NOT the leadership in Rome.