13. After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, "Brethren, listen to me.
14. Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.
15. With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,
16. 'After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,
17. So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,'
18. Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.
19. Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,
20. but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.
21. For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
22. Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas-Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,
23. and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.