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Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
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And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to 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.
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So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
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and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
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Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
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But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."
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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.
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And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:
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Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
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And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
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'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;