[15:6] Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
[15:7] And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
[15:8] "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
[15:9] "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
[15:10] "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
[15:11] "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."
[15:12] Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
[15:13] And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:
[15:14] "Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
[15:15] "And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
[15:16] 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
[15:17] So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.'
[15:18] "Known to God from eternity are all His works.
[15:19] "Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
[15:20] "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
[15:21] "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."