⁸ And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us;

⁹ And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

¹⁰ Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

¹¹ But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.

¹² And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

¹³ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.

¹⁴ Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name.

¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

¹⁶ After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:

¹⁷ That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.

¹⁸ To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.

¹⁹ For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.

²⁰ But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

²¹ For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.

²² Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.

²³ Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

²⁴ Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment:

²⁵ It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:

²⁶ Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷ We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.

²⁸ For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:

²⁹ That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.