Acts 15:1-21 - The Jerusalem Council

¹ But certain men coming down from Judea taught the brethren, Except ye be circumcised, after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. ² When therefore Paul and Barnabas had had no small contention and debate with them, they determined, that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question. ³ And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

⁴ And being come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and the apostles, and elders; and they declared all things which God had done with them. ⁵ But there rose up, said they, certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, That we ought to circumcise them, and command them to keep the law of Moses.

⁶ And the apostles and elders came together, to consider of this matter. ⁷ And after much debate, Peter rose up and said to them, Brethren, ye know, that God long ago made choice among us, that the Gentiles should by my mouth hear the word of the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving the Holy Ghost to them, even as also to us. ⁹ And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now therefore why endeavour ye to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe, that through the grace of the Lord Jesus, we shall be saved, even as they.

¹² Then all the multitude kept silence and hearkened to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought by them among the Gentiles. ¹³ And when they held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken to me. ¹⁴ Simon hath declared, how God at first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this I will return and build again the fallen tabernacle of David;

¹⁶ I will build again the ruins thereof, ¹⁷ and will set it up, That the residue of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doth these things. ¹⁸ Known unto God are all his works from eternity.

¹⁹ Wherefore my sentence is, That we trouble not them who from among the Gentiles turn to God. ²⁰ But that we write to them, to abstain from things offered to idols and fornication, and things strangled and blood. ²¹ For Moses hath of old time them that preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.