Acts 15:16-33

¹⁶‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild David's tent, the fallen one; yes, I will rebuild its ruins and restore it;

¹⁷so that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles—the ones, that is, upon whom my name has been called—says the Lord who does all these things.’

¹⁸All His works are known to God from eternity.

¹⁹Therefore I judge that we should not create difficulty for those who are turning to God from among the ethnic nations,

²⁰but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled, and from blood.

²¹For from ancient generations Moses has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

²²Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas (the one called Barsabas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers.

²³They wrote by their hand the following: “The apostles and the elders and the brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

²⁴Since we have heard that some who went out from among us have disturbed you with words, unsettling your souls, saying that you must be circumcised and keep the Law—to whom we gave no such authorization—

²⁵it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶men who have risked their lives for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also confirm these things by word of mouth.

²⁸It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to place no greater burden upon you than these necessary things:

²⁹to abstain from things offered to idols, from ‘blood’, from anything strangled and from fornication; it will be in your own best interest to keep away from these things. Farewell.”

³⁰So when they were sent off they came to Antioch, and gathering the crowd they delivered the letter.

³¹When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

³²Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

³³After some time, they were released with peace from the brothers to the apostles.