As mentioned previously, Acts chapter 15 & Galatians chapter 2 both describe the same sequence of events, (Acts15Galatians2 Sequence, see below). After men from Judea came to Antioch preaching that gentiles must be circumcised to be saved, Barnabas & Paul were sent to Jerusalem to question the Apostles & Elders  about whether gentiles really must be circumcised to be saved.

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What did James & the Apostles decide?

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Acts 15:13-22   

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, “Men & brethren hearken unto me… Wherefore my sentence is that we trouble not them which from among the gentiles  are turned to Elohim: But that we write unto them that they abstain from pollution of idols, from fornication, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day. Then pleased it the Apostles & elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul & Barnabas; namely Judas, surnamed Barsabas, & Silas; chief men among the brethren:

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So James & the Apostles decided that the new gentile converts did not have to be circumcised in order to be saved. Instead, they decided that the new gentile believers were to abstain from idolatry, from sexual immorality, things strangled, & from blood. “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.”  

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Now for Paul’s version of the same events from Galatians chapter 2…

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Galatians 2:9-10   

and when James, Cephas, & John, who seemed to be pillars perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me & Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen & they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. 

 

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Paul told the Galatians that the only thing that the Jerusalem Council suggested was that they be mindful of the poor! While it may be helpful to be mindful of the poor, it is not something that was even mentioned by the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. Being mindful of the poor is completely irrelevant, & has nothing to do with the question of whether gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved. The four items that new gentile believers were to avoid were not mentioned at all according to what Paul told the Galatians! Why did pharisee Paul give what seems to be an intentionally false misrepresentation of the Council’s decision?

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Do the Scriptures have anything to say about this sort of situation?

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Deuteronomy 17:8-13   

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgement, between blood & blood, between plea & plea, & between stroke & stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise & get thee up into the place which YHWH thy Elohim shall choose; And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgement:

 

And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which YHWH shall choose shall shew thee; & thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: According to the sentence of the Torah(law) which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgement which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, not to the left.

 

And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before YHWH thy Elohim, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. And all the people shall hear, & fear, & do no more presumptuously. 

 

 

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Deuteronomy 17:8-13 seems to be describing exactly what happened in Acts 15. 

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Men from Judaea preached that gentiles must be circumcised to be saved, which caused confusion in the congregation. Paul & Barnabas disagreed with their premise, & were sent to Jerusalem to question James, the Apostles, & elders (the Jerusalem Council) about this matter. The council gave their decision both verbally & in writing in the form of a letter, which was delivered back to Antioch. 

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The Jerusalem Council acknowledged that circumcision was a big leap of faith for the new gentile believer! They indicated that they wanted the believers to follow the Torah’s prohibitions against idolatry, sexual immorality,  improperly slaughtered meats or things strangled, & blood while they learn more about the Scriptures & Torah on the Sabbath. “For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.” When the Council gave their decision in response to Paul & Barnabas’ question, Deuteronomy 17:8-13 indicates that their decision was to be followed faithfully. 

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Luke tells us in Acts 16:4 that Paul was initially informing gentiles of the decision made in Acts 15:19-22. Yet as the self-proclaimed Apostle to the Gentiles, pharisee Paul never bothers to inform gentile congregations of the Jerusalem Council decision in any of his New Testament letters. In all of those letters to various gentile congregations, not once does pharisee Paul accurately inform a single gentile congregation of the Jerusalem Council’s decision on the four items that were to be avoided by gentile believers! Why would he intentionally withhold this valuable information from the Gentile congregations he wrote to? In his letter to the Galatians, Paul can even be seen intentionally misrepresenting the decision of the Jerusalem Council, & giving false information about their decision! 

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{Scott Nelson's amazing website is one of the first places I personally came across a discussion of Paul’s lie regarding the decision of the Acts 15 Jerusalem Council...

https://www.judaismvschristianity.com/chapter-9-paul-a-liar/}

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Why did Paul the pharisee give false information to the Galatians about the decision of James & the Apostles regarding the four items gentiles were to avoid? Why did he mislead them about what really happened? Paul tells the Galatians in Galatians 2:10 that the only thing James & the Apostles wanted was for them  to remember the poor. Is this the LIE that Paul was referring to in Romans 3:7? Is this the dishonesty that Paul admitted in 2 Co12:16?

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Acts15Galatians2 Sequence

1. Men from Judea came to Antioch preaching that gentiles must be circumcised to be saved- Acts 15:1 & Galatians 2:4. (Both chapters describe same initial conflict)

2. This produced disagreement & confusion in the congregation of Antioch- Acts 15:2 & implied in Galatians 2 account.

3. Barnabas & Paul disagree with men from Judea’s assertion that gentiles must be circumcised to be saved-Acts 15:2 Galatians 2:5.

4. Barnabas & Paul sent to question Apostles & Elders in Jerusalem about this matter- Acts 15:2 & Galatians 2:1-4.

5. James, the Apostles, & Elders give audience to Barnabas & Paul, hearing their question- Acts 15:4 & Galatians 2:6-9.(This is the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15.)

6. James, the Apostles, & Elders discuss the question of whether gentiles should be circumcised to be saved- Acts 15:5-12 & implied in Galatians account.

7. James announces their decision on the matter: Acts 15:13-21 & Galatians 2:10. (According to James in Acts 15: avoid idolatry, sexual immorality, things strangled, & blood; according to Paul in Galatians 2:10: “remember the poor”.)

8. James, the Apostles, & Elders send Judas & Silas back to Antioch with Barnabas & Paul to convey the decision- Acts 15:22-30 & Galatians 2:12 .  (Judas & Silas sent to Antioch with Barnabas & Paul; no mention of Peter going to Antioch at that time according to the Acts account.)

9. Decision on the matter conveyed to the congregation in Antioch- Acts 15:31-33, not mentioned specifically in Galatians account.

10. Barnabas & Paul have a major disagreement, which caused them to separate- Acts 15:36-40 & Galatians 2:13. (This major disagreement between Barnabas & Paul occurred only once, & they never worked together again. Both Acts 15 & Galatians 2 mention same initial conflict, relatively the same sequence (except Paul’s account becomes fictional & self serving), & the same final disagreement between Barnabas & Paul. This clearly indicates that both chapters were discussing the same sequence of events.

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Passages Referenced in Above Text

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Romans 3:7

For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my LIE unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

 

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2 Corinthians 12:16

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with GUILE.

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