12. Then all the multitude kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what miracles and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.
13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14. Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17. That the rest of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things.
18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19. Therefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them, who from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from defilements of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21. For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22. Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23. And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greetings unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24. Since we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: