Acts 15:13-29

13After they stopped speaking, 12James responded, saying, “3Brothers, listen to me. 144Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15The words of 5the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:16‘6After these things 7I will return, And I will rebuild the fallen 8tabernacle of David, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,179So that the rest of mankind 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 cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from 1617things contaminated by idols, from 18acts of sexual immorality, from 19what has been 20strangled, and from blood. 21For 21from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since 22he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to 23the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 24Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and 25Silas, leading men among 26the brothers, 23and they 27sent this letter with them: “28The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to 29the brothers and sisters in 30Antioch, 31Syria, and 32Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: 33Greetings. 24Since we have heard that 34some 35of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 36confused you by their 37teaching, upsetting your souls, 2538it seemed good to us, having 39become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 4041risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore, we have sent 42Judas and 43Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 44it seemed good to 45the Holy Spirit and to 46us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 47things sacrificed to idols, from 48blood, from 49things strangled, and from 50acts of sexual immorality; 51if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”