Jerusalem Council

The Jerusalem Council was a meeting described in the New Testament around AD 50, where early church leaders gathered to address whether non-Jewish converts to Christianity needed to follow Jewish law, including practices like circumcision. The council, led by apostles like Paul and Peter, decided that Gentile believers did not have to adhere fully to Jewish customs, emphasizing faith in Jesus Christ as the key for salvation. This decision helped shape Christianity’s direction, making it more accessible and distinct from Judaism, and marked an important moment in the early church’s development of its identity and teachings.