Acts 15:6-21

61The apostles and the elders came together to 2look into this 3matter. 7After there had been much 4debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that 5in the early days 6God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 7the gospel and believe. 8And God, 8who knows the heart, testified to them 9giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and 10He made no distinction between us and them, 11cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why do you 12put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which 13neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we are saved through 14the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were 15relating what 16signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After they had stopped speaking, 1718James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 1419Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15With this the words of 20the Prophets agree, just as it is written,16‘21After these things 22I will return, And I will rebuild the 23tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,1724So that the rest of 25mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles 2627who are called by My name,’1828Says the Lord, who 2930makes these things known from long ago. 19Therefore it is 31my 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 3233things contaminated by idols and from 34fornication and from 35what is strangled and from blood. 21For 36Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since 37he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”