Acts 15:6-29

6And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

7And much discussion having taken place, Peter, standing up, said to them, Brethren, ye know that from the earliest days 1God amongst you chose that the nations by my mouth should hear the word of the glad tidings and believe.

8And the heart-knowing 2God bore them witness, giving [them] the Holy Spirit as to us also,

9and put no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.

10Now therefore why tempt ye 3God, by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11But we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as they also.

12And all the multitude kept silence and listened to Barnabas and Paul relating all the signs and wonders which 4God had wrought among the nations by them.

13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, listen to me:

14Simon has related how 5God first visited to take out of [the] nations a people for his name.

15And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written:

16After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up,

17so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is invoked, saith [the] Lord, who does these things

18known from eternity.

19Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to 6God;

20but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

21For Moses, from generations of old, has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole assembly, to send chosen men from among them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Judas called Barsabas and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

23having by their hand written [thus]: The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are from among [the] nations at Antioch, and [in] Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

24Inasmuch as we have heard that some who went out from amongst us have troubled you by words, upsetting your souls, [saying that ye must be circumcised and keep the law]; to whom we gave no commandment;

25it seemed good to us, having arrived at a common judgment, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will tell you by word [of mouth] the same things.

28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication; keeping yourselves from which ye will do well. Farewell.