^{6 Ref} And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.

^{7 Ref} And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

^{8 Ref} And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;

^{9 Ref} and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

^{10 Ref} Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

^{11 Ref} But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.

^{12 Ref} And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.

^{13 Ref} And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:

^{14 Ref} Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

^{15 Ref} And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

^{16 Ref} After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:

^{17 Ref} That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,

^{18 Ref} Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

^{19 Ref} Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;

^{20 Ref} but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

^{21 Ref} For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

^{22 Ref} Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; `namely', Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

^{23 Ref} and they wrote `thus' by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

^{24 Ref} Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;

^{25 Ref} it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

^{26 Ref} men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

^{27 Ref} We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.

^{28 Ref} For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

^{29 Ref} that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.