First Apostolic Council(from the Acts of the Holy Apostles, chapter 15)Presided over by Saint James the Brother of the Lord and First Bishop of Jerusalem |
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.. certain men which came
down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be
circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When
therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation
with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other
of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about
this question. ... And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were
received of the church, and [of] the apostles and elders, and they
declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up
certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it
was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law
of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of
this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up,
and said unto them, Men [and] brethren, ye know how that a good while
ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should
hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the
hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he
did] unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying
their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke
upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were
able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ we shall be saved, even as they. Then all the multitude kept
silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what
miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And
after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men [and]
brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first
did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And
to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this
I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is
fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set
it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the
Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all
these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. |
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