The Expression and Response to God's Saving Love
The disciples' experiences with Gentile believers revealed God's saving love for humanity. They witnessed signs and wonders among the Gentiles and saw the Holy Spirit poured out upon them, just as it was among Jewish believers. This inclusive love of God, which transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries, led to a profound realization within the early church. The decision by the council to affirm God's saving love for all, as demonstrated through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8), encouraged the believers to embrace one another in love (1 Peter 4:8), fostering unity and building a community of faith bound together by the peace of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:2-3).