Setting the Record Straight: Paul and the Law of Moses (Acts 21:17-26)

This study of the Jerusalem Council explains the circumcision controversy, the four prohibitions, and the meaning of the Apostolic Decree for Gentile believers. It shows how Peter, James, and Paul upheld salvation by grace while expecting ongoing obedience to God's law, including Moses being read every Sabbath.

Did Paul oppose the Torah? In this episode, we respond directly to anti-missionary Rabbi Tovia Singer’s claims that Paul was antinomian. We walk through the accusations, examine the evidence, and demonstrate from Scripture and history that Paul remained faithful to the Torah and encouraged others to do likewise. Show Notes In this podcast, we address the charge that Paul “detested the Law of Moses.” Rabbi Singer makes this claim in his video, but is it accurate? Using Acts, Galatians, Romans, and insights from early believers like Luke and Peter, we show how this accusation misunderstands Paul’s writings. We also explore how twisting Paul’s letters into lawlessness leads people into the very error Peter warned against. Scripture Highlights Acts 21:24 Galatians 6:2 Romans 3:31 2 Peter 3:15–17 1 Corinthians 5:8 Acts 15:21 Spiritual Takeaway When we read Paul rightly, we find a man who followed Yeshua and upheld the Torah—not one who taught others to abandon it.

In this episode, we explore Acts 15:21 and its often-overlooked role in defining the apostles’ expectations for Gentile believers. Far from replacing Torah observance, the Jerusalem Council outlined a process by which Gentiles would begin their discipleship in the synagogue—learning Moses week by week. Show Notes: How were Gentile believers expected to grow in their faith after being welcomed into the community without circumcision? Acts 15:21 provides the key. James assumed regular synagogue attendance, where Moses was read every Sabbath. This teaching challenges the idea that the four rules in Acts 15:20 are the totality of Gentile responsibility. Instead, it shows how Torah learning was foundational to early discipleship. Scripture, scholarship, and first-century practice come together in this powerful teaching. Takeaway: Torah observance for Gentiles was never off the table—it was always on the calendar: every Sabbath.

Did the Law of God change after the cross? Yeshua said that not one jot or tittle will pass from the law until heaven and earth pass away. This teaching examines Matthew 5:17–19 and shows that heaven and earth remain, so God’s law still stands.