Acts xv. 7,8,& seq.COUNCIL, in Latin, Concilium. This word is sometimes taken in general for all sorts of Assemblies; sometimes for the meeting of the Sanhedrim, at others for a convention of Pastors met together to terminate Ecclesiastical Affairs, whether they relate to Faith, Discipline or Manners. Thus the Assembly of the Apostles and Priests at Jerusalem, called together to determine, whether the yoke of the Law should be imposed upon the Gentile Converts, is reputed the first Council of the Christian Church. The same Apostles, soon after the Ascension of our Saviour, were cited, and appeared before the Sanhedrim, which ordered them to be scourged, and forbad them to preach the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. But they did not submit to this Sentence, and departed out of the Assembly, thinking themselves happy to have suffered something for the name of their Divine Master. See hereafter Acts v. 41.Sanhedrim.
Some Authors give us an account of a Succession of the Jewish Councils, which they believe to have been held before and after the coming of our Saviour: But there is no mention of these pretended Councils in the Scripture. As to the first Council convened at Jerusalem, after which it has been proposed to model all those that have been since assembled, it ordained, that the yoke of Circumcision should not be imposed upon the Gentile Converts, nor any other legal Observances; but that they should be obliged to abstain from Meats sacrificed to Idols, from Fornication, from things strangled, and from Blood. I say nothing here of other Councils held in the Church since the time of the Apostles, because there is no mention of them in the Scripture. Some believe, that the Apostles met in Council to compose the Creed: This is a particular which we shall examine under the Article Symbolum.