Acts 15:1-13 ▼

1 Some men came from Judea and started to teach believers that people can't be saved unless they are circumcised as Moses' Teachings require.

2 Paul and Barnabas had a fierce dispute with these men. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were sent to Jerusalem to see the apostles and spiritual leaders about this claim.

3 The church sent Paul and Barnabas [to Jerusalem]. As they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of how non-Jewish people were turning to God. This story brought great joy to all the believers.

4 The church in Jerusalem, the apostles, and the spiritual leaders welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they arrived. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had done through them.

5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, |People who are not Jewish must be circumcised and ordered to follow Moses' Teachings.|

6 The apostles and spiritual leaders met to consider this statement.

7 After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, |Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren't Jewish could hear the Good News and believe.

8 God, who knows everyone's thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren't Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us.

9 God doesn't discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews.

10 So why are you testing God? You're putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry.

11 We certainly believe that the Lord Jesus saves us the same way that he saves them-through his kindness.|

12 The whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the miracles and amazing things that God had done through them among non-Jewish people.

13 After they finished speaking, James responded, |Brothers, listen to me.