6
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
7
When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
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God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
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He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
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Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
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But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."
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All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
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After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.
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Simeon has reported how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
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This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
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`After these things I will return. I will again build the tent of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up:
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That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles who are called by my name, Says the Lord, who does all these things.
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All his works are known to God from eternity.`
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"Therefore my judgment is that we don`t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,
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but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
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For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."