So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." Acts 15:8-11

Peter was the first to speak at this first Church council on the matter regarding the salvation of Gentiles. He gives three brief but compelling points why the Church should not require Gentiles to convert to Judaism to become Christians.

Peter was an eyewitness of God saving Gentiles and filling them with the Holy Spirit without them needing to become Jewish. Peter was there in Acts 10 when God saved the Gentile people of Cornelius’s household.
Peter pointed out the hypocrisy of placing the yoke of the Jewish laws and customs on the Gentiles, especially since even the Jews couldn’t bear that burden.
Peter affirmed the gospel truth that salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike is by God’s grace, received through faith in Christ—alone! We always do well to come back to the gospel of grace, received by faith, not of works!

Let us thank the Lord that He led Peter to these precious truths! And let us be sure not to forget point 2 & 3:

We must never burden people with legalism, and
We must always come back to the gospel of grace!