The Council in Jerusalem had agreed that Gentiles did not have to become Jews in order to be saved and receive the Holy Spirit. Previously, religious activists went to Antioch on their own authority to contradict Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:1-2). It was a wrong action but it precipitated all the apostles and church elders coming to a decision under the Holy Spirit's guidance. That decision helped many other churches as well (Acts 21:25).

So the Council wrote a letter, which was accompanied by Judas (a Jew) and Silas (a converted Gentile). The letter honoured Paul and Barnabas because they had risked their lives for the sake of the gospel. As a result of their prayer and discussion, the Holy Spirit affirmed that the gospel should have a unique priority in church life (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Believers who were inclined to be legalistic needed to understand that salvation was by God's grace and not through keeping religious rules.

However, the implication of eating certain foods was becoming a contentious issue. Eating and fellowship were closely associated with fellowship, family ties and people's consciences (as Peter had already experienced in Acts 10:10-15). It greatly offended the conscience of a Jew to eat non-kosher meat or for a believing Gentile to eat meat that had been offered in immoral ceremonies to idols in the pagan temples. The Council advised that it is best to avoid secondary issues, especially when they disturb other people's consciences (1 Corinthians 8:9), and certainly to avoid immorality.

When believers feel strongly about an issue, they need to take great care not to dishonour God's servants or impede the church's confidence in the gospel. None of the Lord's messengers is perfect but they are His servants; and those who preach the gospel and call people to repentance should be honoured, not least because they suffer for their ministry. There are many secondary issues, which may evoke strong feeling, but the gospel has an urgent priority. Never forget that human passion is not necessarily the same as God's will (Colossians 3:8). We may be motivated by many factors in our background, but we must choose to submit to God's Word and His priorities, lest we wreck the reputations of faithful servants and prevent people responding to the gospel.