Study Desk

Some men^(a) came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised^(b) according to the custom prescribed by Moses,^(c) you cannot be saved!"

But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.^(d)

When they had been sent on their way by the church,^(e) they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers.

When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.^(f)

But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses!"

Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter.

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: "Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you,^[a] that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.

And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving^[b] the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us.^(g)

He made no distinction between us and them,^(h) cleansing their hearts by faith.⁽ⁱ⁾

Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples' necks^(j) that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace^(k) of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are."

Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.^(l)

After they stopped speaking, James responded: "Brothers, listen to me!

Simeon^[c] has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name.^(m)

And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

After these things I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,

so the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, declares the Lord who does these things,

known from long ago. ^[d](n)[e]

Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,

but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,^(o) from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.

For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues."^(p)