Quotes About Unity

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.

All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him

But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ëDo not call anything impure that God has made clean.í

The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the manís home.

So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”

When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!

Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.

For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ëI have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.í”

The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.

And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: