Acts 15:1-21 - The Jerusalem Council

¹ And certain ones having come down from Judea were teaching the brethren that, Unless you may be circumcised, according to the custom of Moses, you are not able to be saved. ² And there being no small contention and disputation to Paul and Barnabas against them, they delegated Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this question. ³ Then indeed they having been sent away by the church, traveled through both Phoenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles: and they continued to make great joy to all the brethren.

⁴ And arriving into Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and they proclaimed so many things as God did with them. ⁵ And certain one of those from the sect of the Pharisees having believed arose up, saying that, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

⁶ And the apostles and elders were convened to see about this problem. ⁷ And there being much disputation, Peter, having arisen, said to them, Men, brethren, you know that from ancient days God chose among you, that the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel through my mouth, and believe. ⁸ And God, who knows the heart, witnessed to them, giving to them the Holy Ghost, as also to us; ⁹ and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But through the grace of our Lord Jesus, we believe that we are saved, in the same manner in which they are also.

¹² And the whole multitude became silent, and continued to hear Barnabas and Paul, relating how many miracles and wonders God wrought among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ And after they became silent, James responded, saying, Men, brethren, hear me. ¹⁴ Symeon hath related how God in the first place interposed to take a people from the Gentiles, in His name. ¹⁵ And to this corresponds the words of the prophet; as has been written,

¹⁶ After these things I will return, and will build again the throne of David, which has fallen down; and will build again the ruins of the same, and will set it up again: ¹⁷ in order that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles, on whom my name has been called upon them, says the Lord, who doeth these things ¹⁸ known from the beginning.

¹⁹ Therefore I judge, that we should not burden those from the Gentiles turning to God: ²⁰ but to command them to abstain from things offered to idols, and from fornication, and from strangulation, and from blood. ²¹ For Moses from ancient generations, has those preaching him in every city, being read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.