There is no difference between the standard God has set for Israelites/Jews and Gentiles. Peter makes this clear in Acts 15:9. Let us consider the Ten Commandments which are not recorded as being mentioned in the Acts 15 letters to the Gentiles.
Let us consider a number of scriptures where Paul mentions violations of the Ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) as not of the nature of disciples of Christ. These epistles scriptures certainly would have been written to Gentles but most likely also included Jews in those cities.
A. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: …neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous…shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Five Commandments: 1st & 2nd (idolatry — no other Gods, no graven images); 7th (adultery); 8th (stealing) & 10th (covetous)
B. Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;…murders
One More Commandments: 6th (kill/murder) Makes 6
C. Colossians 3:8-9: But now ye also put off all these;…blasphemy…, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another…
Two More Commandment: 9th and 3rd (false witness, taking Lord’s name in vain) Makes 8
D. Ephesians 6:2: …Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
One More Commandment 5th (Honor Father and Mother) makes 9
E. Acts 13:13-16, 42-43 One More 4th (Keep the Sabbath ) makes 10.
This one is by example rather than by instruction like the others. The lesson is that one day a week should be set aside from regular work (i.e., waited until next sabbath in verse 42). But of course, Paul also met on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Indeed, the Sabbath Commandment is clarified under the New Covenant as having more individual oriented than community oriented (Colossians 2:16-17).
F. So clearly Acts 15 was not about establishing a different standard for the Gentiles and Israelites. Acts 15:8-11 shows that the same standard is set for Jew/Israelite and Gentile under the New Covenant under Christ. The letters merely addressed some example things Gentiles are to comply with the key being the specific law under question, circumcision, is not one of them. Those things mentioned apply to both Gentile and Jew/Israelite and circumcision applies to neither Israelite/Jew or Gentile under the New Covenant under Christ. However, it is not unrighteous for Jews/Israelites to be circumcised as it is not unrighteous for Gentiles to be circumcised; it is a matter of human preference not a requirement of God under the New Covenant for either. Paul illustrates this preference matter in Acts 16:3 where Timothy is circumcised and Galatians 2:3 where Titus is not compelled to be circumcised; all consistent with Paul’s general teaching on circumcision in Galatians 5:2-6.
See related article entitled Different Cultural Norms as a Matter of Group or Individual Preference
