15. And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
16. ‘Afterward I will returnand restore the fallen house of David.I will rebuild its ruinsand restore it,
17. so that the rest of humanity might seek the lord,including the Gentiles—all those I have called to be mine.The lord has spoken—
18. he who made these things known so long ago.’
19. “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20. Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.
21. For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
22. Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.
23. This is the letter they took with them:“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
24. “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!
25. So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26. who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.