Ac:15:6: And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Ac:15:7: And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Ac:15:8: And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Ac:15:9: And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Ac:15:10: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Ac:15:11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Ac:15:12: Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Ac:15:13: And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Ac:15:14: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Ac:15:15: And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Ac:15:16: After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Ac:15:17: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Ac:15:18: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Ac:15:19: Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Ac:15:20: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Ac:15:21: For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Ac:15:22: Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Ac:15:23: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Ac:15:24: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Ac:15:25: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Ac:15:26: Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ac:15:27: We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Ac:15:28: For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Ac:15:29: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Ac:15:30: So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
Ac:15:31: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
Ac:15:32: And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
Ac:15:33: And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
Ac:15:34: Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
Ac:15:35: Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts of the Apostles
