⁵ But some believers who belonged to ^(A)the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ^(B)“It is necessary ^(C)to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

^6 (D)The ^(E)apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷ And after there had been much ^(F)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, ^(G)that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear ^(H)the word of ^(I)the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, ^(J)who knows the heart, ^(K)bore witness to them, ^(L)by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹ and ^(M)he made no distinction between us and them, ^(N)having cleansed their hearts ^(O)by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why ^(P)are you putting God to the test ^(Q)by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples ^(R)that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we ^(S)believe that we will be ^(T)saved through ^(U)the grace of the Lord Jesus, ^(V)just as they will.”

¹² And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul ^(W)as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they finished speaking, ^(X)James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. ^14 (Y)Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ^(Z)a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

¹⁹ Therefore ^(AE)my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who ^(AF)turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them ^(AG)to abstain from ^(AH)the things polluted by idols, and from ^(AI)sexual immorality, and from ^(AJ)what has been strangled, and from ^(AK)blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, ^(AL)for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then it seemed good to ^(AM)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called ^(AN)Barsabbas, and ^(AO)Silas, leading men among ^(AP)the brothers, ²³ with the following letter: ^(AQ)“The brothers, both ^(AR)the apostles and the elders, to the brothers^[b] who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, ^(AS)greetings. ²⁴ Since we have heard that ^(AT)some persons have gone out from us and ^(AU)troubled you^[c] with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, ²⁵ it has seemed good to us, having come ^(AV)to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our ^(AW)beloved Barnabas and Paul, ^26 (AX)men who have ^(AY)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent ^(AZ)Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it has seemed good ^(BA)to the Holy Spirit and ^(BB)to us ^(BC)to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: ^29 (BD)that you abstain from ^(BE)what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

¹⁹ After greeting them, ^(A)he related one by one ^(B)the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ^(C)ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they ^(D)glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all ^(E)zealous for the law, ²¹ and they have been told about you that you teach all ^(F)the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, ^(G)telling them ^(H)not to circumcise their children or ^(I)walk according to ^(J)our customs. ²² What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³ Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men ^(K)who are under a vow; ²⁴ take these men and ^(L)purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, ^(M)so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. ²⁵ But as for the Gentiles who have believed, ^(N)we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,^[a] and from sexual immorality.”

Live as You Are Called

¹⁷ Only let each person lead the life^{[a] (A)}that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. ^(B)This is my rule in ^(C)all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? ^(D)Let him not seek circumcision. ^19 (E)For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but ^(F)keeping the commandments of God.