Acts 15:1-21 - The Jerusalem Council

¹ But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Brethren that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved. ² This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these men, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the Apostles and Officers of the Church about the matter under discussion. ³ The Church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the Brethren.

⁴ On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the Officers, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do. ⁵ Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.

⁶ The Apostles and the Officers of the Church held a meeting to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter rose and said: "You, my Brothers, know well that long ago God singled me out--that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the Message of the Good News, and become believers in Christ. ⁸ Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between them and us, when he purified their hearts by their faith. ¹⁰ Why, then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ No, it is through the loving-kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved."

¹² Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as they listened to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account of all the signs and wonders which God had shown among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. "Brothers," he began, "hear what I have to say. ¹⁴ Simon has described the manner in which God first visited the Gentiles, in order to take from among them a people to bear his Name. ¹⁵ And that is in harmony with the words of the Prophets, where they say--

¹⁶ '"After this I will return; and I will rebuild the House of David which has fallen--its very ruins I will rebuild, and will set it up once more; ¹⁷ That so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord--even all the Gentiles on whom my Name has been bestowed." ¹⁸ Says the Lord, as he does these things, foreknown from of old.'

¹⁹ In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰ But we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood. ²¹ For in every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the Synagogues every Sabbath."