Skip to content
Acts / The Jerusalem Council on Gentile Circumcision
Navigation
A A
The Ascension of Jesus Prayer in the Upper Room and the Choosing of Matthias Pentecost: The Coming of the Spirit Peter's Sermon and Three Thousand Converted The Early Christian Community Healing at the Beautiful Gate Peter's Address at Solomon's Colonnade The Apostles Before the Sanhedrin Believers Pray for Boldness The Believers Share Possessions Ananias and Sapphira Signs Performed by the Apostles Persecution of the Apostles and Their Witness The Appointment of the Seven Deacons Stephen's Wisdom and Opposition Stephen's Speech before the Sanhedrin The Stoning of Stephen and the Persecution of the Church Saul's Persecution Scatters the Church Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria Simon Magus and Peter's Rebuke Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch The Conversion of Saul Saul's Early Ministry and Acceptance by the Church Peter Heals Aeneas and Raises Tabitha Cornelius' Vision and the Call for Peter Peter's Vision and the Messengers from Cornelius Peter at Cornelius' House: Gentiles Receive the Spirit Peter Defends the Conversion of Gentiles The Church in Antioch and Famine Relief Herod Executes James; Peter Miraculously Freed Herod's Death and the Church's Continued Growth The First Missionary Sending Ministry in Cyprus and Elymas's Blinding Paul's Mission in Pisidian Antioch Paul and Barnabas in Iconium Healing in Lystra and Paul's Stoning Paul and Barnabas Strengthen the Churches The Jerusalem Council on Gentile Circumcision The Council's Letter and Peace with Antioch Paul and Barnabas Separate Timothy Joins Paul and Churches Are Strengthened The Call to Macedonia Lydia's Conversion at Philippi Paul and Silas Imprisoned and Released in Philippi Preaching in Thessalonica and Opposition Berea's Noble Reception and Paul's Departure Paul's Address at the Areopagus Paul's Ministry in Corinth and Conflict Paul Departs; Apollos Instructed by Priscilla and Aquila Paul's Ministry and the Ephesian Disciples The Ephesian Riot over Artemis Paul's Journeys Through Macedonia and Greece Eutychus Raised in Troas Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders Paul's Voyage to Jerusalem Paul's Arrival in Jerusalem and the Temple Ritual Paul Seized in the Temple Paul's Defense: His Conversion and Mission Paul's Arrest and the Council's Division The Plot to Kill Paul and the Soldier's Intervention Paul Escorted to Caesarea under Guard Paul's Defense before Governor Felix Paul Brought before Festus and the Jewish Charges King Agrippa Learns of Paul's Case Paul's Defense Before Agrippa Paul's Voyage to Rome Begins The Storm at Sea and God's Promise of Safety Shipwreck and Deliverance on Malta Paul on Malta: Healing and Hospitality Voyage to Rome and Arrival Paul in Rome: Preaching under House Arrest

The Jerusalem Council on Gentile Circumcision

Acts 15:1-21

15
Chapter 15
1 Some who had come down from Judea were teaching the brothers, "If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 But when not a little sedition and contention had arisen between Paul and Barnabas and them, they ordered Paul and Barnabas and some others from them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this dispute. 3 Then the ones sent on their way by the church went through both Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brothers. 4 But when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of those from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying that it is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. 6 The apostles and elders gathered together to consider this matter. 7 Now after much debate had arisen, Peter stood up and said to them, "Men, brothers, you know that in ancient days among you God chose through my mouth for the Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and believe." 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit just as also to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But through the grace of the Lord Jesus, we believe we are saved in the same way as they. 12 The whole multitude fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they recounted all the things God had done—signs and wonders—among the Gentiles through them. 13 After they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men, brothers, listen to me." 14 Simeon has explained how God first visited the nations to take from them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets, just as it has been written. 16 After these things I will return and rebuild the tent of David, the one having fallen; and the things torn down of it I will rebuild, and I will set it upright. 17 so that the remnants of men might seek out the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things. 18 known from eternity. 19 Therefore I judge not to trouble those from the nations turning to God, 20 but to send letters to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from sexual immorality and from the strangled and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has in every city those who proclaim him in the synagogues, being read every Sabbath.