Acts 15:12 — Acts 15:34

12 And all the multitude became silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul relating all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13 And when they finished speaking, James answered, saying, Men, brothers, listen to me.

14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take out from them a people for His name.

15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, even 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 erect it again,

17 So that the remainder of men may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles upon whom My name has been called,

18 Says the Lord, who is making these things known from of old.”

19 Therefore I judge that we do not harass those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,

20 But that we write to them to abstain from the contamination of idols and fornication and what is strangled and blood.

21 For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who proclaim him in the synagogues, he being read every Sabbath.

22 It then seemed good to the apostles and the elders with the whole church to choose men from among them to send to Antioch together with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, who is called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

23 Writing to them and sending by their hand the following: The apostles and the elder brothers, to the brothers throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are of the Gentiles, rejoice.

24 Since we have heard that certain ones who went out from among us have troubled you with their words, unsettling your souls, to whom we gave no instruction,

25 It seemed good to us, having become of one accord, to choose men to send to you together with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will report the same things by word of mouth.

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

29 To abstain from things that have been sacrificed to idols and blood and things strangled and fornication, from which if you carefully keep yourselves, you will do well. May you be strong.

30 So when they had been sent away, they went down to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they handed them the letter.

31 And when they read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement.

32 And Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, exhorted the brothers through much speaking and confirmed them.

33 And when they had spent some time there, they were sent away with peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.

34 But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.