7. After much debate, Peter stood and addressed them, "Fellow believers, you know that, early on, God chose me from among you as the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and come to believe.
8. God, who knows people’s deepest thoughts and desires, confirmed this by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9. He made no distinction between us and them, but purified their deepest thoughts and desires through faith.
10. Why then are you now challenging God by placing a burden on the shoulders of these disciples that neither we nor our ancestors could bear?
11. On the contrary, we believe that we and they are saved in the same way, by the grace of the Lord Jesus."
12. The entire assembly fell quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God did among the Gentiles through their activity.
13. When Barnabas and Paul also fell silent, James responded, “Fellow believers, listen to me.