The letter sent at the conclusion of the Jerusalem council to gentile Christians includes the line, ""It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us . . ."" (Acts 15:28). Contemporary congregations desire similar moments but are simply not built for them, lacking the discernment postures and practices that would make such a moment possible. This work undertakes a deep reading of Acts 1-15, asking the questions, ""What led to this pivotal moment in Acts?""...