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THE CORONATION 437
through the merits of the Redemption. Regarding a
mystery so exalted and hidden, I cannot say more than
this.
496. On the last of the ten days saint Peter celebrated
the other Mass and all received holy Communion as in the
first. Then, all being gathered in the name of the Lord,
they invoked the Holy Ghost and began to consult about
the solution of the difficulties that had arisen in the
Church. Saint Peter, as the head and the highpriest,
spoke first, then saint Paul and Barnaby, and saint James
the Less, as is related by saint Luke in the fifteenth chap
ter of the Acts. The first decision of this council was,
that the exact law of the circumcision and the law of
Moses should not be imposed upon the baptized; since
eternal
salvation was given through Baptism and faith
in Christ. Although saint Luke principally mentions
only this decision, yet there were others, which defined
certain matters concerning the government and the cere
monies of the Church, in order to stop some abuses in
troduced by the indiscreet piety of some of the faithful.
This is held to be the first council of the Apostles, al
though they had also gathered to establish the Credo
and other things as mentioned before. However, at
that only the Apostles had convened, whereas now also
those disciples took part, who could come. Also the
manner of conferring and of resolving was different,
being a formal decision, as is clear from the words of
saint Luke : "It has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and
to us," etc. (Luke 15, 28).
497. Couched in these terms the decision of the coun
cil was sent by letter to the faithful and to the churches
of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia; and they remitted these
letters through the hands of saint Paul and Barnaby and
of other disciples. In order that the approbation of
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