How did Spirit guided men establish authority?

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What’s Your Question? for Dec. 2, 2009

Disciples met in Jerusalem to discuss whether Gentiles must be circumcised to be saved (Acts 15:1-16). Peter spoke first, using Cornelius (Acts 10) as an example. He drew a necessary inference from this to show that Gentiles did not have to be circumcised. Barnabas and Paul gave examples of their work among Gentiles. James spoke, quoting Amos 9:11,12, and said this was fulfilled in the gospel being preached to Gentiles. They used precept, example and necessary inference and said “we gave no such commandment” to those binding circumcision. God was silent about that practice. When God has not spoken, there is no authority to act. Brethren, in the past, who were trying to restore the Bible pattern understood these principles. Those who do not understand how to establish Bible authority, cannot follow it.