Apostol § 36

In those days, some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” And the Apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said unto them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit even as He did unto us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you tempt God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simeon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His Name. And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My Name, saith the Lord who does all these things.’ Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. Therefore I judge, that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write unto them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.” Then it pleased the Apostles and elders, with the whole Church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. And they wrote this letter by them: The Apostles, the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. Forasmuch as we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘Ye must be circumcised and keep the law’—to whom we gave no such commandment—it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Fare ye well. So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. Which when they had read, they rejoiced for [its] consolation. And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them. And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back in peace to the Apostles. However, it pleased Silas to remain there still.