“Therefore I judge
that we should not trouble those
from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
but that we write to them
to abstain from things polluted by idols,
from sexual immorality, from things strangled,
and from blood.”
Acts 15:19-20

The context:

Some leaders were troubling new Gentile believers, saying they needed to be circumcised before they could join the church. So the churches sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to present the question to the apostles and elders.

Who gave the decision?

“And after they had become silent, JAMES answered, saying,
‘Men and brethren, listen to me …Therefore I judge…’”
Acts 15:13 – Acts 15:19

“Therefore I judge…”

Who was speaking?

NOT Peter. It was James speaking, as he was the head of the council.

The point:

. When the council at Jerusalem made a decision on the issue presented
    it was James who made the judgment, not Peter.

.There is no such thing as a papacy.

. Peter was the apostle to the JEWS.
   (Galatians 2:8)

. Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, so if there were going to be a pope,
    it would be…Paul.

. In another place Paul actually rebuked Peter,
   which he wouldn’t have done if Peter was the “pope.”
   (Galatians 2:11)

There is no reference in the Scriptures of Peter being the head of the church. He was not the leader of the first church in Jerusalem, James was.

The whole issue of the papacy is based on a misinterpretation of Scripture. Peter is NOT the rock in Matthew 16, JESUS is. The rock of our faith is the REVELATION to Peter, “you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” It is upon THIS REVELATION that the church is built.The Catholic mishandling of this passage is tragic and has introduced heresy upon heresy ever since.

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