¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(A) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^{(B) 13} When they finished, James^(C) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon^[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.^{(D) 15} The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(A) from sexual immorality,^(B) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(C) 21} For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(D)