Acts 15:1-21

Lexham English Bible

The Jerusalem Council

15 And some men came down from Judea and^[a] began teaching^[b] the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² And after^[c] there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue. ³ So they were sent on their way by the church, and^[d] passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ And when they^[e] arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them^[f] to observe the law of Moses!”

⁶ Both the apostles and the elders assembled to deliberate concerning this matter. ⁷ And after^[g] there was much debate, Peter stood up and^[h] said to them, “Men and brothers, you know that in the early days^[i] God chose among you through my mouth that the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by^[j] giving them^[k] the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. ⁹ And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ So now why are you putting God to the test by^[l] placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same^[m] way those also are.” ¹² And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³ And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Men and brothers, listen to me! ¹⁴ Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

¹⁹ Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰ but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. ²¹ For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, because he^[r] is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”