4. (a) What controversy arose in the first-century congregation? (b) According to Acts 15:1-6, what theocratic action was initiated?

⁴ Unity of action in Jehovah’s organization is illustrated for us at Acts chapter 15.

The record is found in Acts chapter 15.

It will be highly beneficial to consider these and other developments recorded at Acts 13:1–16:5, for Jehovah’s Witnesses are now experiencing similar growth and spiritual blessings. (Isaiah 60:22) (In private study of the articles on Acts in this issue, we suggest that you read the passages from the book indicated by boldface type.)

The Bible provides only limited detail about the composition of the early governing body, most of the information being in Acts chapter 15.

Individual congregations had appointed overseers, or elders, and ministerial servants. (Acts 15:6; Philippians 1:1)

Some Christian Jews felt that Gentile converts should get circumcised and keep the Mosaic Law, but others disagreed. (Acts 15:1-5)

To settle it, Paul and others went to Jerusalem to consult the Christian governing body.​—Acts 15:1, 2.

Its decisions were binding upon the entire organization of Christians in that day as we see in the fifteenth chapter of Acts.

Otherwise they could not gain salvation. (Acts 15:1)

So we find that Paul and Barnabas were sent to the “apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding [the circumcision] dispute.”​—Acts 15:2.

Acts chapter 15 shows that first Paul and Barnabas outlined the question.

They felt that circumcision was essential for salvation and that all Gentile converts to Christianity had to get circumcised.​—Acts 14:26–15:1.

After there had been much discussion of the subject, the congregation in Antioch “arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute.” (Acts 15:2)

As the apostle Paul indicated, God ‘delivered anointed ones from the authority of the darkness and transferred them into the kingdom of the Son of his love.’​—Colossians 1:13-18; Acts 2:33, 42; 15:2; Galatians 2:1, 2; Revelation 22:16.

When the circumcision issue was decided, that body evidently included “the apostles and older men in Jerusalem.” (Acts 15:1, 2)

Yes, the early Christian congregations cooperated with one another under the direction of a governing body comprised of the apostles and older men at Jerusalem.​—Acts 15:1–16:5.

“The holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled [so as to leave the blood in them] and from fornication.”​—Acts 15:19, 20, 28, 29.

The operation of the first-century body of elders in Jerusalem is illustrated in Acts chapter 15.

A meeting of apostles and older men at Jerusalem to settle the question of circumcision is described in chapter 15.

15:1-35 486

Hence, it is understandable that the governing body in that period was composed of Jews, “apostles and older men in Jerusalem,” as mentioned at Acts 15:2.

By the time of the meeting of the governing body recounted in Acts chapter 15, many Gentiles had become Christians.

In Acts, chapter 15, we have recorded for us the important meeting of the apostles and older men held in Jerusalem to decide on the issue of circumcision.

After ascertaining God’s mind on the matter it sent letters of instructions to the various local congregations. (Acts 15:1-35)

The happy outcome was that the Christians in Antioch “rejoiced.”​—Acts 15:1-32.

Rather, he assented to the congregation’s decision to refer the matter to the apostles and elders of the Jerusalem congregation.—Acts 15:1, 2.

Yes, they actually welcomed and were grateful for the fine results it produced.—Acts 15:1-32.

James summed up matters, and the decision confirmed by holy spirit was sent to all the congregations.​—Acts 15:1-29.

Commenting thereon, British scholar Joseph Benson said: “This prohibition of eating blood, given to Noah and all his posterity, and repeated to the Israelites . . . has never been revoked, but, on the contrary, has been confirmed under the New Testament, Acts xv.; and thereby made of perpetual obligation.”

This will serve as a fine example for all in each congregation and will help them to be united among themselves and with the rest of the Christian brotherhood around the earth.​—Acts 15:1-31; Hebrews 13:7; Revelation 5:6.

But Paul and Silas are released by an earthquake and preach to the jailer and his household, and these become baptized believers.​—15:1–16:40.