The first Gentile assembly in the New Testament was at Antioch. Acts Chapters 13-18 outline the activity of the early church days and the ministry of Saul and Barnabas. The blessings of the Lord were upon the assembly in Antioch and they multiplied and were encouraged in the teachings of the apostles and prophets. When some men came from Jerusalem and presented false doctrine saying the Gentile converts needed to follow Old Testament Law, the apostles came to Antioch to look into the matter and later returned to Jerusalem to counsel with the Apostles and Elders who lived there. Relying solely on the Holy Scriptures, they affirmed that salvation came only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and adding burdens from the Old Testament Law was placing a burden upon these Christians that was false. The assembly accepted the teachings of the apostles and the assembly was helped.
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