It was a big moment for the Christian church. Should all believers in Jesus become Jews and submit to those religious rules, or can they retain their national and ethnic identity and still be full members of the church? Paul and Barnabas, and Peter, had all experienced how Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit when they believed the gospel. But religious legalists, former Pharisees, in the church still found it difficult to believe that salvation is through grace alone; and that good works, or obeying religious rules, cannot contribute (Acts 15:1; Ephesians 2:8-9).

After Peter had supported Paul and Barnabas by reflecting on his own gospel encounter with Cornelius, the Roman centurion, (Acts 15:7-11) the church in Jerusalem did well to listen in silence, and pray for discernment rather than to argue. The subject of their speech was their observation of what God had done. Although God had used them, they did not seek to glorify themselves, but the Lord. When they had finished, James (the half brother of Jesus – Galatians 1:19) spoke as the presiding elder to summarise the evidence, bring the Scripture to bear on the situation and give his opinion.

Peter's evidence was significant, and James believed that it was authenticated by Amos 9:11-12 (he quoted the words from the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament into Greek). The purpose of God's self-revelation to Israel was not to exclude everybody else from salvation, but for God's people to be a 'light to the Gentiles' (Isaiah 49:6). Simeon recognised that Jesus was the ultimate fulfilment of that prophecy (Luke 2:32), as Jesus Himself confirmed in John 8:12. The purpose of all God has done through history is that whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life (John 3:16).

But as humans we easily default to our tribal habits, whether they are national, ethnic or even denominational. We like to justify our own behaviour as 'normal' and try to make other people behave like us – even in the church. That is why we must listen to Christ’s appointed Apostles and to the Scriptures. If our value-judgements exclude them, we will be wrong. If we take away from them we will be wrong, and if we add to them we will be wrong. And yet strong passions, egotistical ideas, and human traditions abound in the churches around the world; as do claims of divine guidance which contradict the Scriptures and clear apostolic teaching. Let today's reading lead us to repentance and a willingness to submit to the revealed will of God through His Word and His chosen Apostles