Acts 15:6-24

⁶And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter.

⁷And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

⁸And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us;

⁹And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

¹⁰Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

¹¹But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.

¹²And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

¹³And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.

¹⁴Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name.

¹⁵And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

¹⁶After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:

¹⁷That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.

¹⁸To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.

¹⁹For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.

²⁰But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

²¹For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.

²²Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.

²³Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

²⁴Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment: