^6 (A)The ^(B)apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷ And after there had been much ^(C)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, ^(D)that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear ^(E)the word of ^(F)the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, ^(G)who knows the heart, ^(H)bore witness to them, ^(I)by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹ and ^(J)he made no distinction between us and them, ^(K)having cleansed their hearts ^(L)by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why ^(M)are you putting God to the test ^(N)by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples ^(O)that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we ^(P)believe that we will be ^(Q)saved through ^(R)the grace of the Lord Jesus, ^(S)just as they will.”

¹² And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul ^(T)as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they finished speaking, ^(U)James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. ^14 (V)Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ^(W)a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

¹⁹ Therefore ^(AB)my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who ^(AC)turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them ^(AD)to abstain from ^(AE)the things polluted by idols, and from ^(AF)sexual immorality, and from ^(AG)what has been strangled, and from ^(AH)blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, ^(AI)for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”