The Council in Jerusalem

¹Some men came down from Judea and started teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." ²This led to no small dissension and debate between Paul and Barnabas and these men. So it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some others from the group should go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and elders. ³The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles. This brought great joy to all the brothers. ⁴When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything God had done through them. ⁵But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "They must be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses." ⁶The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. ⁷After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose from among us that the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel from my mouth and believe. ⁸And God, who knows the hearts, testified on their behalf by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. ⁹He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. ¹⁰So now why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved, just as they will." ¹²Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they described what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³When they finished, James responded, saying, "Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Simeon has described how God first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for his name. ¹⁵The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: ¹⁶'After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, ¹⁷so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord — all the Gentiles who are called by my name,' says the Lord, who does all these things. ¹⁸Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. ¹⁹Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. ²¹For Moses has had those who preach him in every city from ancient times, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." ²²Then it pleased the apostles and elders, along with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas — namely Judas, called Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. ²³They wrote this letter by their hand: "The apostles, elders, and brothers send greetings to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. ²⁴Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with their words, unsettling your souls, saying you must be circumcised and keep the law — to whom we gave no such instructions — ²⁵it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell." ³⁰So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and when they had gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹When they read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement. ³²Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. ³³After they had spent some time there, the brothers sent them off in peace to those who had sent them. ³⁴However, Silas decided to remain there. ³⁵Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, along with many others.