Acts 15:2-23

2And after Paul and Barnabas had 1a heated argument and 2debate with them, 3the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the 4apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3Therefore, after being 5sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both 6Phoenicia and Samaria, 7describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all 8the brothers and sisters. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, 9the apostles, and the elders, and they 10reported all that God had done with them. 5But some of 11the sect of the 12Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to 13circumcise 14them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”

615The apostles and the elders came together to 16look into this 17matter. 7After there had been much 18debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “19Brothers, you know that 20in the early days 21God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 22the gospel and believe. 8And God, 23who knows the heart, testified to them 24giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and 25He made no distinction between us and them, 26cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Since this is the case, why are you 27putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which 28neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we are saved through 29the 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 30relating all the 31signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After they stopped speaking, 3233James responded, saying, “34Brothers, listen to me. 1435Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15The words of 36the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:16‘37After these things 38I will return, And I will rebuild the fallen 39tabernacle of David, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,1740So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles 4142who are called by My name,’1843Says the Lord, who 4445makes these things known from long ago. 19Therefore, it is 46my 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 4748things contaminated by idols, from 49acts of sexual immorality, from 50what has been 51strangled, and from blood. 21For 52from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since 53he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to 54the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 55Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and 56Silas, leading men among 57the brothers, 23and they 58sent this letter with them: “59The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to 60the brothers and sisters in 61Antioch, 62Syria, and 63Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: 64Greetings.