Some mencame downfrom Judeaand [began] teachingthe brethren,"Unlessyou are circumcisedaccording to the customof Moses,you cannotbe saved."
On the eighthdaythe fleshof his foreskinshall be circumcised.
"For thisreasonMoseshas givenyou circumcision(not becauseit is from Moses,but from the fathers),and on [the] Sabbathyou circumcisea man.
At thistimePeterstoodup in the midstof the brethren(a gatheringof aboutone hundredand twentypersonswas there together),and said,
Thenit seemed goodto the apostlesand the elders,with the wholechurch,to choosemenfrom amongthem to sendto Antiochwith Pauland Barnabas--JudascalledBarsabbas,and Silas,leadingmenamongthe brethren,
and they sent this letterby them, "The apostlesand the brethrenwho are elders,to the brethrenin Antiochand Syriaand Ciliciawhoare from the Gentiles,greetings.
"Sincewe have heardthat someof our numberto whomwe gavenoinstructionhave disturbedyou with [their] words,unsettlingyour souls,
Therefore,being sent on their wayby the church,they were passing throughbothPhoeniciaand Samaria,describing in detailthe conversionof the Gentiles,and were bringinggreatjoyto allthe brethren.
Judasand Silas,alsobeingprophetsthemselves,encouragedand strengthenedthe brethrenwith a lengthymessage.
But someof the sectof the Phariseeswho had believedstoodup, saying,"It is necessaryto circumcisethem and to directthem to observethe Lawof Moses."
And when they heardit they [began] glorifyingGod;and they saidto him, "You see,brother,how manythousandsthere are amongthe Jewsof thosewho have believed,and they are allzealousfor the Law;
for we have heardhim saythat thisNazarene,Jesus,will destroythisplaceand alterthe customswhichMoseshanded downto us."
Thenafteran interval of fourteenyearsI wentup againto Jerusalemwith Barnabas,takingTitusalongalso.
For in ChristJesusneithercircumcisionnoruncircumcisionmeansanything,but faithworkingthroughlove.
Those whodesireto make a good showingin the fleshtry to compelyou to be circumcised,simplysothat they will not be persecutedfor the crossof Christ.
Thereforenooneis to act as your judgein regard to foodordrinkorin respectto a festivalora new moonora Sabbathday--
Seeto it that noonetakes you captivethroughphilosophyand emptydeception,accordingto the traditionof men,accordingto the elementary principlesof the world,ratherthanaccordingto Christ.
