May 2, 2013, Reading

The Acts of the Apostles     15: 7-21

15:7 And after a great contention had taken place, Peter rose up and said to them: “Noble brothers, you know that, in recent days, God has chosen from among us, by my mouth, Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and to believe.
15:8 And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us.
15:9 And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
15:10 Now therefore, why do you tempt God to impose a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
15:11 But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.”
15:12 Then the entire multitude was silent. And they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, describing what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
15:13 And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: “Noble brothers, listen to me.
15:14 Simon has explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to his name.
15:15 And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was written:
15:16 ‘After these things, I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise it up,
15:17 so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, along with all the nations over whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, who does these things.’
15:18 To the Lord, his own work has been known from eternity.
15:19 Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed,
15:20 but instead that we write to them, that they should keep themselves from the defilement of idols, and from fornication, and from whatever has been suffocated, and from blood.
15:21 For Moses, from ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on every Sabbath.”

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