What Does the Bible Say About Council?

“Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:”

“And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:”

“And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.”

“And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. pleased: Heb. was right in the eyes of, etc”

“Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. what: Heb. what is in his mouth”

“And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou. his saying: Heb. his word”

“And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. given: Heb. counselled”

“For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. chafed: Heb. bitter of soul”

“Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. overthrown: Heb. fallen”

“And he also that is valiant , whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.”

“Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person. that thou: Heb. that thy face, or, presence go, etc”

“So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.”

“Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.”

“And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. appointed: Heb. commanded”

“Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.”

“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

“When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.”

“And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.”

“And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.”

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. rose: or, rose up, said they, certain”

“And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.”

“And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.”

“And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;”

“And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

“Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.”

“And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:”

“Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.”

“And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,”

“After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:”

“That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called , saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.”

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:”

“But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.”

“For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”

“Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:”

“And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:”

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”

“It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,”

“Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. mouth: Gr. word”

“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;”

“That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”