Acts 15:13-29

13After they had stopped speaking, 12James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 143Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15With this the words of 4the Prophets agree, just as it is written,16‘5After these things 6I will return, And I will rebuild the 7tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,178So that the rest of 9mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles 1011who are called by My name,’1812Says the Lord, who 1314makes these things known from long ago. 19Therefore it is 15my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from 1617things contaminated by idols and from 18fornication and from 19what is strangled and from blood. 21For 20Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since 21he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to 22the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 23Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and 24Silas, leading men among 25the brethren, 23and they 26sent this letter by them, “27The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to 28the brethren in 29Antioch and 30Syria and 31Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, 32greetings. 24Since we have heard that 33some 34of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 35disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 2536it seemed good to us, having 37become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 3839risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent 40Judas and 41Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 42it seemed good to 43the Holy Spirit and to 44us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 45things sacrificed to idols and from 46blood and from 47things strangled and from 48fornication; 49if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”