Return with me to verse five where I referenced the word “and.” Recall that there were some Pharisees present who “believed.” Still being bound to the Talmud and their man-made rules and regulations, they insisted that Gentile converts be circumcised AND keep (obey) the law of Moses. This became a matter of much debate among the apostles. Though the Lord did away with circumcision, Scriptures tell us that He did not do away with the law of Moses. Let us fast forward to verses 19 through 21 in order to find Scriptural proof of this Truth.

Here we find James, the pastor of the church in Jerusalem who, because the meeting was taking place in that city, occupying the leadership role. After much discussion of the subjects under consideration (circumcision and the law of Moses), he arose and addressed the gathering of disciples, elders and apostles: “Wherefore my sentence (ruling) is that we not trouble the Gentiles who have turned to the Lord (been converted), but that we command them to abstain from idolatry (Deut. 12:29-32), and from fornication (Lev. 18:1-30), and from things strangled (Lev. 11:1-7) and from eating blood (Gen. 9:3,4; Lev. 17:10-14).” Now note that God does command Gentiles to HEAR THE LAW OF MOSES: “For MOSES of old time has in EVERY CITY them that preach and read HIS WORDS in the synagogues every (Lord’s) SABBATH DAY.” Note it, THE GENTILES WERE TO BELIEVE AND OBEY THE OLD TESTAMENT (Eph. 2:20). In 16:4 we find that the apostles went about preaching the decrees of the Lord, His commands concerning circumcision (no) and obedience to the law of Moses (yes) among them. Acts 21:25 tells the modern church the same thing. This decree was still in effect long after Jesus met with and taught the apostles for 40 days following His resurrection. If they were not to obey and teach the law of Moses He would have told them so at that time. The same is true concerning the Sabbath, Christmas, Easter, instant salvation, original sin, denominations, etc. BUT HE DID NOT. We know this because those doctrines and customs did not enter the church until the fourth century when the Catholics embraced them along with masses of heathen who were  being “converted” at the point of Roman swords. Later the Protestants took the “converts'” heathen practices with them when they left in “protest.”

Now note verse 24 where we find written: “Forasmuch as we have heard that certain people who went out from us (Pharisee “converts”) have bothered you by saying that Gentiles must be circumcised “and” keep the law, to whom we gave no such commandment.” This is one of those instances in which the word “and” connects two statements that mean the same. As is always the case, one must recognize the context of Biblical statements in order to determine their true meaning. In this case the writer (Luke) was referring to the law of circumcision. The apostles, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, ruled that Gentiles need not be circumcised AND keep the LAW OF CIRCUMCISION. We know this because Paul stated that “the law is holy, just and good” (Rom. 7:12). Remember that the Ten Commandments are part of the writings of Moses. In writing, I capitalize the world “Law” when referring to them. When asked what one must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told both the rich man and the lawyer that they must obey the “Law” (Lk. 10:25-28) and the “commandments” of the Law (Lk. 18:18-23). Note that when the rich man asked which commandments he must keep to be saved, Jesus began to verbalize the Ten Commandments. Further proof that we must obey the Law is found in the fact that the word “iniquity” means “Lawlessness.” In Matthew 7:23; 31:41 and 23:28 we find Jesus telling us that He will condemn those of us who are iniquitous–Lawbreakers. This type of knowledge comes only from much study and total dependence upon the Holy Spirit for revelation. Read Isaiah 28:9,10 to learn how to study God’s Word. L.J.