that they must first be converted to the Jewish faith), because otherwise they cannot be saved. On this occasion, heated debates arose among Christians. Individually, i.e.  On his own, none of the apostles could solve such an important issue. This compelled the Holy Apostles, together with the presbyters (priests), in accordance with the commandment of Christ (Matt. 18:17)

to convene at the first Apostolic Council, in Jerusalem in 51 A.D . After long arguments and reasoning, Ap. Peter, he stood up and said that the Lord, who had chosen him at first for the conversion of the Gentiles, had made no distinction between the Gentiles and the Jews, and had given the Holy Spirit to all alike, and therefore Gentile Christians did not need to fulfill the ceremonial law of Moses.

"We believe," the Apostle concluded his speech, "that by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved." The speech of Ap. Peter made a deep impression. This was eloquently evidenced by the silence of the entire large assembly. This impression was then strengthened even more after the story of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas about the signs and wonders that God performed through them among the Gentiles.

After all, the Holy Apostle James , who presided over the Council, stood up to speak, "the brother of the Lord." He, as bishop of the Church of Jerusalem and chairman of the Council (the first among equals), had the last word. His opinion was also important because he himself was a strict zealot of the law and for this he received the name "righteous" not only from Christians, but also from the Jews themselves.

His position in the Church was also filled with greatness, he was the first bishop of Jerusalem, ordained by the Lord Himself. St. Jacob led a strict ascetic (abstinent, monastic) life, wore a "petalon", i.e. a golden tablet, which was worn only by the high priests. He spent whole hours alone in the temple praying for his people. In Jerusalem, he was revered as a "stronghold of the people." St. James approved the opinion of Ap.

Peter, proved that this is consistent with prophecy (Amos 9:11-12), and, consequently, with the Divine predestination. He proposed: "Not to make it difficult for Gentile Christians to fulfill the ceremonial law of Moses; but they must live in purity and holiness and not do to others what they do not want to do to themselves." This sentence of Ap. James was received by the Apostles, the elders and the whole community, i.e. 

by the entire Council, unanimously, as a resolution (decree) of the Council. This was made known to all Christians in writing (by the Conciliar Epistle), which began with the words: "It is pleasing to the Holy Spirit and to us"... Thus, the Apostolic Council pointed out to Christians that the decrees of the Council, according to the words of the Lord (John 16:13; 14:16), are the decrees of the Holy Spirit.

The Epistle of the Apostolic Council evoked great joy and consolation among Christians. NOTE: See in the book. Acts of the Apostles, ch. 15, 1-35. The Preaching Labors of the Apostles The Apostles of Christ, by their preaching, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, in a short time subdued to Christ a multitude of pagans, both simple and ignoble people, as well as scholars and kings themselves.

The apostles bore much labor for this holy work. They endured many sorrows and misfortunes. All the Apostles, except John the Theologian, accepted a martyr's death (the Apostle John the Theologian died in prison at a ripe old age). The number of Christians, even after the death of the Holy Apostles, grew from year to year, and the Christian faith spread throughout the whole earth. The sermon of Ap.

In Rome, the Apostles preached for the most part orally. But in order that the teaching of Christ might be better preserved, some of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote it down in books. That is why these books are called holy, Holy Scripture, just like the books of the holy prophets who were before Christ. Two of the twelve apostles, Matthew and John, and two of the seventy, Mark and Luke, each wrote a book about the earthly life of Christ the Savior and His teaching.

These four books are called the Gospels because they contain the teaching of Christ, which the Savior Himself called the Gospel. The apostles who wrote them are called Evangelists. The Evangelist Luke also wrote the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles (i.e. , the deeds and works of the Holy Apostles). This book tells how the Holy Apostles in the first years spread the Christian faith.

Other of the Apostles: James of Alpheus, Peter, as well as John the Theologian and Judas of James, wrote seven conciliar epistles, i.e. letters to Christians throughout the world, and in these epistles they taught how to believe and live according to the teaching of Christ. (One Epistle of the Apostle James, two of Peter, three of John, and one of Judas). The Apostle Paul wrote fourteen epistles to individual churches and persons.

The Apostle John the Theologian, in addition to the Gospel and the three Epistles, also wrote the Apocalypse, or Revelation. In this book, he sets forth the future fate of the Church of Christ and the whole world. But, of course, the Apostles did not write down everything in the books, what they taught, what they established among Christians, what they heard from the Savior and saw from Him. The Evangelist Apostle John the Theologian himself writes about this: "Jesus did many other things; but if I were to write about it in detail, then, I think, the world itself would not be able to contain the books written."

The teaching and rules that the apostles passed on to Christians in words or by example were firmly preserved by Christians. This teaching, transmitted by them orally and later written down by holy men, is called the Apostolic Tradition, or Holy Tradition. Together with the Apostles and after them, the Apostolic Men (disciples of the Apostles) labored in preaching the Gospel