March 08, 2026

Acts 15 Explained: Did Jewish Believers Still Keep the Law?

37 minutes

One of the most debated questions in the Book of Acts is whether the Jewish believers in Jerusalem continued living under the Law of Moses after believing in Jesus Christ.

Acts chapter 15 records a major council in Jerusalem where the apostles and elders gathered to address a serious dispute: some believers were teaching that Gentiles could not be saved unless they were circumcised and kept the Law of Moses.

Was this teaching correct? Were the early Jewish believers still obligated to keep the law? Or had something fundamentally changed with the death and resurrection of Christ?

In this lesson, we examine the Scriptures that clarify the relationship between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. From the words of Peter, Paul, and the prophets, the Bible reveals that the Law of Moses was never meant to provide righteousness—it served as a schoolmaster pointing to Christ.

When Jesus shed His blood, He fulfilled the law and established the New Covenant. Because of that finished work, believers today are not justified by the works of the law but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Join us as we walk through the key passages that explain why Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Key Scriptures

Acts 15:1–11

Jeremiah 31:31–34

Matthew 26:26–29

1 Corinthians 11:23–26

2 Corinthians 3:6–17

Romans 10:1–4

Hebrews 7:11–22

Galatians 3:19–25

Colossians 2:13–17

In This Lesson

Why Acts 15 became a turning point in the early church

What Peter meant when he called the law a “yoke”

Why the Old Covenant had to be replaced

How the New Covenant was established through Christ’s blood

Why Jesus could not serve as High Priest under the Law of Moses

What Paul meant when he said Christ is the end of the law

The true purpose of the law in leading people to Christ

Why believers today live in the liberty of the New Covenant

A Final Thought

The Law of Moses revealed sin but could never remove it. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and brought in a better covenant—one based on grace, righteousness, and the power of the Spirit.

If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, the invitation still stands:

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

And for those who are in Christ, Scripture reminds us to stand fast in the liberty we have in Him and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Read the companion blog:

Christ Is the End of the Law: Understanding the New Covenant https://www.biblemysteriespodcast.com/post/christ-is-the-end-of-the-law-understanding-the-new-covenant

Downloadable Study Notes for subscribers.

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The Unlock the Bible Now ministry provides weekly Sunday Bible Studies to help you understand God's word and unlock the secrets found in the Bible.

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By Scott Mitchell, Bleav

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