Acts 15:6–21

⁶The apostles and spiritual leaders met to consider this statement. ⁷After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren’t Jewish could hear the Good News and believe. ⁸God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren’t Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us. ⁹God doesn’t discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews. ¹⁰So why are you testing God? You’re putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry. ¹¹We certainly believe that the Lord Jesus saves us the same way that he saves them—through his kindness.”^b

¹²The whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the miracles and amazing things that God had done through them among non-Jewish people. 

¹³After they finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Simon has explained how God first showed his concern by taking from non-Jewish people those who would honor his name. ¹⁵This agrees with what the prophets said. Scripture says, 

¹⁶‘Afterwards, I will return. 

I will set up David’s fallen tent again. 

I will restore its ruined places again. 

I will set it up again 

¹⁷so that the survivors and all the people who aren’t Jewish 

over whom my name is spoken, 

may search for the Lord, declares the Lord. 

¹⁸He is the one who will do these things that have always been known!’ 

¹⁹“So I’ve decided that we shouldn’t trouble non-Jewish people who are turning to God. ²⁰Instead, we should write a letter telling them to keep away from things polluted by false gods, from sexual sins, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from eating bloody meat. ²¹After all, Moses’ words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of rest—a holy day.”