The Council of Jerusalem

The Council of Jerusalem was a significant early Christian meeting around 50 AD where leaders like Peter and Paul discussed whether non-Jewish converts needed to follow all Jewish customs, such as circumcision. The key decision was that Gentile believers did not have to adopt every Jewish law, emphasizing faith in Jesus over strict adherence to tradition. This council helped shape Christianity’s identity as a distinct faith and made it easier for non-Jewish people to join without full Jewish practice, fostering unity and growth in the early Christian community.