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, “5Brothers, you know that 6in the early days 7God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 8the gospel and believe. 8And God, 9who knows the heart, testified to them 10giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and 11He made no distinction between us and them, 12cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Since this is the case, why are you 13putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which 14neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we are saved through 15the 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 16relating all the 17signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After they stopped speaking, 1819James responded, saying, “20Brothers, listen to me. 1421Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15The words of 22the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:16‘23After these things 24I will return, And I will rebuild the fallen 25tabernacle of David, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,1726So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles 2728who are called by My name,’1829Says the Lord, who 3031makes these things known from long ago. 19Therefore, it is 32my 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 3334things contaminated by idols, from 35acts of sexual immorality, from 36what has been 37strangled, and from blood. 21For 38from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since 39he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to 40the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 41Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and 42Silas, leading men among 43the brothers, 23and they 44sent this letter with them: “45The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to 46the brothers and sisters in 47Antioch, 48Syria, and 49Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: 50Greetings. 24Since we have heard that 51some 52of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 53confused you by their 54teaching, upsetting your souls, 2555it seemed good to us, having 56become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 5758risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore, we have sent 59Judas and 60Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 61it seemed good to 62the Holy Spirit and to 63us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 64things sacrificed to idols, from 65blood, from 66things strangled, and from 67acts of sexual immorality; 68if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”