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In the Regions Beyond
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between a living faith and a dead formalism. Paul still claimed to be
one of the children of Abraham, and kept the Ten Commandments
in letter and in spirit as faithfully as he had ever done before his
conversion to Christianity. But he knew that the typical ceremonies
must soon altogether cease, since that which they had shadowed
forth had come to pass, and the light of the gospel was shedding
its glory upon the Jewish religion, giving a new significance to its
ancient rites.
Evidence of Cornelius’ Experience
The question thus brought under the consideration of the council
seemed to present insurmountable difficulties, viewed in whatever
light. But the Holy Ghost had, in reality, already settled this problem,
upon the decision of which depended the prosperity, and even the
existence, of the Christian church. Grace, wisdom, and sanctified
judgment were given to the apostles to decide the vexed question.
Peter reasoned that the Holy Ghost had decided the matter by
descending with equal power upon the uncircumcised Gentiles and
the circumcised Jews. He recounted his vision, in which God had
presented before him a sheet filled with all manner of four-footed
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beasts, and had bidden him kill and eat; that when he had refused,
affirming that he had never eaten that which was common or unclean,
God had said, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”
He said, “God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness,
giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; and put no
difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now
therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”
This yoke was not the law of the Ten Commandments, as those
who oppose the binding claim of the law assert; but Peter referred
to the law of ceremonies, which was made null and void by the
crucifixion of Christ. This address of Peter brought the assembly to
a point where they could listen with reason to Paul and Barnabas,
who related their experience in working among the Gentiles.