Episode 105: Acts Chapter 15

This chapter contains the most important moment for these Jesus followers. There was a divide in their ranks over what to do with new believers who are not Jewish. There was a movement that wanted new believers to convert to Judaism before becoming a Jesus follower. The leaders of the church decided that it was not necessary to become a Jew first. These are the requirements that they passed on to new believers: Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not serve food offensive to Jewish Christians—blood, for instance.’ This is basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath” (Acts 15:20-21 MSG).
Those non-Jewish believers were thrilled with the news.
The Christian life tends to be this big list of do’s and don’ts, but this chapter teaches us to keep it simple.