12. Everyone kept quiet and listened as Barnabas and Paul told how God had given them the power to perform a lot of miracles and wonders for the Gentiles.
13. After they had finished speaking, James said:My friends, listen to me!
14. Simon Peter has told how God first came to the Gentiles and made some of them his own people.
15. This agrees with what the prophets wrote,
16. “I, the Lord, will returnand rebuildDavid's fallen house.I will build it from its ruinsand set it up again.
17. Then other nationswill turn to meand be my chosen ones.I, the Lord, say this.
18. I promised it long ago.”
19. And so, my friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20. We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins.
21. We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read when we Jews meet.