^4 (A)When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and ^(B)the apostles and the elders, and ^(C)they declared all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some believers who belonged to ^(D)the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ^(E)“It is necessary ^(F)to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

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

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

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

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For ^(A)freedom Christ has ^(B)set us free; ^(C)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(D)a yoke of ^(E)slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(F)if you accept circumcision, ^(G)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(H)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are ^(I)severed from Christ, ^(J)you who would be justified^[a] by the law; ^(K)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(L)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(M)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^(N)only faith working through love.

^7 (O)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(P)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(Q)him who calls you. ^9 (R)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10 (S)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(T)take no other view, and ^(U)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[b] still preach^[c] circumcision, ^(V)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(W)the offense of the cross has been removed.

Final Warning and Benediction

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you ^(A)with my own hand. ^12 (B)It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^(C)who would force you to be circumcised, and only ^(D)in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But far be it from me to boast ^(E)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which^[a] the world ^(F)has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(G)neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^(H)a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, ^(I)peace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^(J)the Israel of God.

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. ^20 (G)Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by ^(A)philosophy and ^(B)empty deceit, according to ^(C)human tradition, according to the ^(D)elemental spirits^[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For ^(E)in him the whole fullness of deity dwells ^(F)bodily, ¹⁰ and ^(G)you have been filled in him, who is ^(H)the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also ^(I)you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by ^(J)putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ^12 (K)having been buried with him in baptism, in which ^(L)you were also raised with him through faith in ^(M)the powerful working of God, ^(N)who raised him from the dead.

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3 Finally, my brothers,^{[a] (A)}rejoice in the Lord. ^(B)To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

² Look out for ^(C)the dogs, look out for ^(D)the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For ^(E)we are the circumcision, ^(F)who worship ^(G)by the Spirit of God^[b] and ^(H)glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—