Changes

'''The Council of Jerusalem''' was the convening of the [[Apostles]] and [[Paul]] and other Christian leaders around A.D. 50 to decide which Jewish traditions would be required of [[Gentiles]] who converted to [[Christianity]]. Specifically, the community in Jerusalem believed that non-Jewish converts to Christianity needed to be [[circumcised]] and to accept [[Mosaic Law|Jewish law]], while Paul argued that that should not be required. Paul was able to convince the rest of the early Christian leaders that his views were correct, and the requirements that converts be circumcised was dropped.

'''The Council of Jerusalem''' was the convening of the [[Apostles]], with [[Saint Paul]] and other Christian leaders, around A.D. 48 to decide the controverted matter of whether Jewish traditions like circumcision would be required of [[Gentiles]] who had newly converted to [[Christianity]]. The Apostolic Council unanimously ruled that it would need be, since Gentiles, like Jews, were now saved by Grace, through faith in, and love of, Jesus Christ.

 

Specifically, some had disturbed the consciences of Gentile converts to Christ by claiming that non-Jewish converts to Christianity needed to be [[circumcised]] and to accept [[Mosaic Law|Jewish law]], while St. Paul correctly argued that that should not be required. The Apostolic Council praised St. Paul and finally agreed, after speeches by Saint Peter, the first Pope, and Saint James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, as a decision of the Holy Spirit, that St. Paul's views were correct, and the requirements that converts be circumcised was henceforth completely dropped as undesirable.

The Council decided to make the burdens as light as possible on converts:<ref>Acts 15:28-29</ref>

The Council decided to make the burdens as light as possible on converts:<ref>Acts 15:28-29</ref>