5
But some of 1the sect of the 2Pharisees who had believedstood up, saying, "It is necessary to 3circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
6
4The apostles and the elderscametogether to look into thismatter.
7
After there had beenmuch5debate, Peterstood up and said to them, "Brethren*, you know that in the earlydays6Godmade a choiceamong you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 7the gospel and believe.
8
"And God, 8whoknows the heart, testified to them 9giving them the HolySpirit, just as He also did to us;
9
and 10He madenodistinctionbetween us and them, 11cleansing their hearts by faith.
10
"Nowthereforewhy do you 12putGod to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yokewhich13neither our fathersnor we have beenable to bear?
11
"But we believe that we are savedthrough14the grace of the LordJesus, in the sameway as they also are."
12
All the peoplekeptsilent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were 15relatingwhat16signs and wondersGod had donethrough them among the Gentiles.
James's Judgment
13After they had stoppedspeaking, 17Jamesanswered, saying, "Brethren*, listen to me.
14
"18Simeon has relatedhowGodfirstconcerned Himself abouttaking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.
15
"With this the words of 19the Prophetsagree, just as it is written,