The Council at Jerusalem

(Amos 9:11–15, Galatians 2:1–10)

5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up [and] declared “[The Gentiles] must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” 6 [So] the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

7 After much discussion, Peter got up [and] said to them, “Brothers, you know that in [the] early days God made a choice among you [that] the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as [He did] to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, [for] He cleansed their hearts by faith.

10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe [it is] through the grace of [the] Lord Jesus [that] we are saved, just as they [are].”

12 The whole assembly fell silent [as they] listened to Barnabas and Paul describing [the] signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they had finished speaking, James declared Brothers, listen to me! 14 Simon[fn] has told us how God first visited [the Gentiles] to take from [them] a people [to be] His [own]. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

16 ‘After [this] I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it

17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name says [the] Lord who does these things

18 [that] have been known for ages.’[fn]

19 [It is] my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles [who] are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write [ and tell] them to abstain from [ food ] polluted by idols, [from] sexual immorality, [from] the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. 21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times [and] is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”