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As the discussions grew more intense, Peter stood up and said to them: “Brothers, you know that from the beginning, God chose me among you, so that non-Jews could hear the Good News from me and believe.

God, who can read hearts, put himself on their side by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts through faith.

So, why do you want to test God? Why do you place a burden on the disciples that neither our ancestors nor we could carry?

We truly believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.

The entire assembly remained silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas share all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had performed through them among the non-Jews.

After they finished, James spoke up:

“Listen to me, brothers.

Symeon has just explained how God first showed his care by taking a people for himself from non-Jewish nations.

And the words of the prophets agree with this, for Scripture says,

After this, I will return

and rebuild David’s fallen booth;

I will restore its ruins and set it up again.

Then, the rest of humanity

will seek the Lord,

and all nations will be consecrated to my Name.

So says the Lord,

who is today doing what he decided

from the beginning.

Because of this, I believe we should not create obstacles for non-Jews seeking God.

Let us simply instruct them not to eat food that is unclean because it has been offered to idols; to avoid prohibited marriages; and not to eat the flesh of animals that have been strangled or any blood.

For, from the earliest times, Moses has been taught everywhere, and every Sabbath his laws are remembered.