1

Now certain men came down from Judaea, teaching the brothers and saying that without circumcision, after the rule of Moses, there is no salvation.

2

And after Paul and Barnabas had had no little argument and discussion with them, the brothers made a decision to send Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them to the Apostles and the rulers of the church at Jerusalem about this question.

3

So they, being sent on their way by the church, went through Phoenicia and Samaria, giving news of the salvation of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the brothers.

4

And when they came to Jerusalem, they had a meeting with the church and the Apostles and the rulers, and they gave an account of all the things which God had done through them.

5

But some of the Pharisees, who were of the faith, got up and said, It is necessary for these to have circumcision and to keep the law of Moses.

6

And the Apostles and the rulers of the church came together and gave thought to the question.

7

And when there had been much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, My brothers, you have knowledge that some time back it was God's pleasure that by my mouth the good news might be given to the Gentiles so that they might have faith.

8

And God, the searcher of hearts, was a witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit even as he did to us

9

Making no division between them and us, but making clean their hearts by faith.

10

Why then are you testing God, by putting on the neck of the disciples a yoke so hard that not even our fathers or we were strong enough for it?

11

But we have faith that we will get salvation through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way as they.

12

And all the people were quiet while Barnabas and Paul gave an account of the signs and wonders which God had done among the Gentiles by them.

13

And when they had come to an end, James, answering, said, My brothers, give ear to me:

14

Symeon has given an account of how God was first pleased to take from among the Gentiles a people for himself.

15

And this is in agreement with the words of the prophets, as it is said,

16

After these things I will come back, and will put up the tent of David which has been broken down, building up again its broken parts and making it complete:

17

So that the rest of men may make search for the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is named,

18

Says the Lord, who has made these things clear from the earliest times.

19

For this reason my decision is, that we do not put trouble in the way of those who from among the Gentiles are turned to God

20

But that we give them orders to keep themselves from things offered to false gods, and from the evil desires of the body, and from the flesh of animals put to death in ways against the law, and from blood.

21

For Moses, from times long past, has his preachers in every town, reading his law in the Synagogues every Sabbath.