⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.^{(A) 8} God, who knows the heart,^(B) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(C) just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them,^(D) for he purified their hearts by faith.^{(E) 10} Now then, why do you try to test God^(F) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke^(G) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace^(H) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(I) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^{(J) 13} When they finished, James^(K) 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.^{(L) 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,^(O) from sexual immorality,^(P) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(Q) 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.”^(R)