Acts 15:3-16

³The church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the followers.

⁴On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the elders, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do.

⁵Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.

⁶The apostles and the church elders held a meeting to consider this question.

⁷After much discussion, Peter rose and said: “You, my friends, know well that long ago God singled me out — that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the message of the good news, and become believers in Christ.

⁸Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.

⁹He made no distinction between them and us, when he purified their hearts by their faith.

¹⁰Why, then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear?

¹¹No, it is through the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved.”

¹²Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as they listened to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account of all the signs and wonders which God had shown amongst the Gentiles through them.

¹³After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. “Friends,” he began, “hear what I have to say.

¹⁴Simon has described the manner in which God first visited the Gentiles, in order to take from amongst them a people to bear his name.

¹⁵And that is in harmony with the words of the prophets, where they say —

¹⁶‘After this I will return; And I will rebuild the house of David which has fallen — Its ruins I will rebuild, And will set it up once more;