Acts 15:7–21

⁷and there having been much disputing, Peter having risen up said unto them, ‘Men, brethren, ye know that from former days, God among us did make choice, through my mouth, for the nations to hear the word of the good news, and to believe; ⁸and the heart-knowing God did bare them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us, ⁹and did put no difference also between us and them, by the faith having purified their hearts; ¹⁰now, therefore, why do ye tempt God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹but, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.’ ¹²And all the multitude did keep silence, and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul, declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them; ¹³and after they are silent, James answered, saying, ‘Men, brethren, hearken to me; ¹⁴Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name, ¹⁵and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written: ¹⁶After these things I will turn back, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and its ruins I will build again, and will set it upright— ¹⁷that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name hath been called, saith the Lord, who is doing all these things.

¹⁸‘Known from the ages to God are all His works; ¹⁹wherefore I judge: not to trouble those who from the nations do turn back to God, ²⁰but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood; ²¹for Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him—in the synagogues every sabbath being read.’