Acts 15:1-21 - The Jerusalem Council
1 Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses. 2 Paul and Barnabas had an intense (harsh) dispute and debate with them. They concluded that Paul, Barnabas, and others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to settle this question. 3 The congregation sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations. They brought great joy to all the brothers.
4 Then they went to Jerusalem where the apostles and elders and congregation greeted them. They declared all the things that God had done for them. 5 The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.
6 The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. 8 God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. 10 Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? 11 We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are.
12 The crowd kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul. They declared the miracles and wonders God performed through them among the people of the nations. 13 When they finished talking James said: Brothers listen to me: 14 Simeon declared how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. 15 The words of the prophets agree to this for it is written:
16 I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins. I will restore it. (Amos 9:11,12) 17 That the rest of mankind might seek after Jehovah, and all the nations, upon whom my name is called, Jehovah said, who is doing these things. (Amos 9:12) 18 Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Therefore it is my decision not to trouble those of the nations who have turned to God. 20 We should write to them that they should abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from things strangled and from blood. 21 Moses has been preached in the synagogues from old times until now every Sabbath day.