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1The apostles and the elderscametogether to look into thismatter.
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After there had beenmuch2debate, Peterstood up and said to them, "Brethren*, you know that in the earlydays3Godmade a choiceamong you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 4the gospel and believe.
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"And God, 5whoknows the heart, testified to them 6giving them the HolySpirit, just as He also did to us;
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and 7He madenodistinctionbetween us and them, 8cleansing their hearts by faith.
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"Nowthereforewhy do you 9putGod to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yokewhich10neither our fathersnor we have beenable to bear?
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"But we believe that we are savedthrough11the grace of the LordJesus, in the sameway as they also are."
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All the peoplekeptsilent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were 12relatingwhat13signs and wondersGod had donethrough them among the Gentiles.
James's Judgment
13After they had stoppedspeaking, 14Jamesanswered, saying, "Brethren*, listen to me.
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"15Simeon has relatedhowGodfirstconcerned Himself abouttaking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.
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"With this the words of 16the Prophetsagree, just as it is written,
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'17AFTERTHESETHINGS18I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT,