Acts 15:6-29

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.”

22Then it seemed good to 38the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 39Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and 40Silas, leading men among 41the brethren, 23and they 42sent this letter by them, “43The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to 44the brethren in 45Antioch and 46Syria and 47Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, 48greetings. 24Since we have heard that 49some 50of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 51disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 2552it seemed good to us, having 53become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 5455risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent 56Judas and 57Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 58it seemed good to 59the Holy Spirit and to 60us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 61things sacrificed to idols and from 62blood and from 63things strangled and from 64fornication; 65if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”