The Council of Jerusalem

The churches founded from Antioch included Gentiles (Acts 14:27). Acts says that men came down from Judea and taught that without circumcision according to the custom of Moses they could not be saved. After sharp argument the church sent Paul, Barnabas and others to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem (Acts 15:1–2).

In Acts the matter is argued before the apostles and elders. Believers from the party of the Pharisees said that the Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:4–6). Peter recalled that God had given the Spirit to Gentiles through his own preaching, and asked why they should be given a yoke that neither their ancestors nor they themselves had been able to bear (Acts 15:7–11). Then James the Just spoke. He quoted words of the prophets about the rest of humankind seeking the Lord and gave his judgement: Gentiles who turn to God should not be troubled, but should abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled and from blood (Acts 15:13–21). The quotation is from Amos, where the Hebrew text speaks instead of possessing “the remnant of Edom” (Amos 9:11–12).

Acts gives the text of a letter that carried the decision to the Gentile believers of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, taken by Judas Barsabbas and Silas. It laid on them “no greater burden” than these four abstentions, with the words “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us” (Acts 15:22–31).

Paul describes in Galatians a visit to Jerusalem at which the circumcision of Gentile believers was at issue; whether it is this meeting or an earlier visit is disputed (see the dating note). He went up “by revelation” with Barnabas, taking Titus, a Greek, and set out privately before the leaders the message he preached to the Gentiles. Titus was not compelled to be circumcised, and Paul says that he did not give way to “false brothers” who had come in to spy on their freedom. The leaders, Paul says, added nothing to him. James, Cephas and John, “reputed to be pillars”, gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship: they should go to the Gentiles, and the others to the circumcised. They asked only that he remember the poor (Galatians 2:1–10).

If the two accounts describe one meeting, they agree on the question, the chief persons and the outcome: circumcision was not required of Gentiles. They differ in several points. Acts describes an assembly of apostles, elders and church, and Paul a private meeting with the leaders. In Acts the church of Antioch sends him; Paul says he went by revelation. Galatians does not mention the letter or its four abstentions. Acts says that Paul delivered the decisions to his churches, and has James cite them again on Paul’s last visit to Jerusalem (Acts 16:4) (Acts 21:25).

Paul goes on to tell of a dispute over how Jewish and Gentile believers were to eat together. When Cephas came to Antioch, he says, he ate with Gentiles until “some people came from James”, then drew back, and Barnabas went with him. Paul opposed Cephas “to his face” (Galatians 2:11–14). Paul’s own rule in 1 Corinthians is that a man called uncircumcised should not be circumcised, and in Acts James repeats the decision on Paul’s last visit to Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 7:18–19) (Acts 21:25).