The Council at Jerusalem

(Amos 9:11–15, Galatians 2:1–10)

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 debate,[fn] Peter got up [and] said to them, vvv“Brothers, you know that in [the] early days God made a choice among us[fn] [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 vvv 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[fn] [that] we are saved, vvv vvv 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“vvv 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 vvv may seek the Lord,

and all the Gentiles who are called by My name

says [the] Lord who does all these things.’[fn]

18 

Known for ages to God are all His works.[fn]

19 

[It is] my judgment, therefore, vvv 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.”

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