Acts 15:2-29

New International Version

² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(A) to see the apostles and elders^(B) about this question. ³ The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia^(C) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.^(D) This news made all the believers very glad. ⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.^(E)

⁵ Then some of the believers who belonged to the party^(F) of the Pharisees^(G) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”^(H)

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.^{(I) 8} God, who knows the heart,^(J) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(K) just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them,^(L) for he purified their hearts by faith.^{(M) 10} Now then, why do you try to test God^(N) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke^(O) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace^(P) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(Q) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^{(R) 13} When they finished, James^(S) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon^[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.^{(T) 15} The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(W) from sexual immorality,^(X) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(Y) 21} For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(Z)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then the apostles and elders,^(AA) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch^(AB) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,^(AC) men who were leaders among the believers. ²³ With them they sent the following letter: