By reading of today's reading, we can see glimpse of what struggles and issues that early churches had to face in planting and expanding of churches in worldwide. We see there was a group of people who insisted the gentile converts to conform to the law of Moses, mainly circumcision, to be saved. I do appreciate how the issue had been handled by and among apostles and the Council. Stott mentioned that it was the combination of prophetic witness ( Book of Amos) and apostolic experience (Peter's ministry to the Cornelius', Paul and Barnabas' ministry to the gentiles)to convince the council. We know the result by reading of Act 15:19-29. The Gospel of grace is for everyone, the circumcised and the uncircumcised.
Like Stott said, through this ordeal, God taught not only our forefathers but to us that Gospel of grace is for everyone who put his or her faith in Christ. We don't need any additional laws and rituals to complete our salvation.
Another aspect the brought forth a positive outcome was that the Council created guidelines not to enforce Jewish law on the gentile converts to avoid any conflicts in fellowship with one another.
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