First ReadingActs 15:7-21
From the Acts of the Apostles
7When there had been much discussion,Peter rose up and said to them,“Brothers, you know that a goodwhile ago God made a choice among youthat by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.8God, who knows the heart,testified about them,giving them the Holy Spirit,just like he did to us.9He made no distinction between us and them,cleansing their hearts by faith.10Now therefore why do you tempt God,that you should put a yoke on the neck of the discipleswhich neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?11But we believethat we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,just as they are.”
12All the multitude kept silence,and they listened to Barnabasand Paul reporting what signsand wonders God had done among the nations through them.13After they were silent,James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.14Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.15This agrees with the words of the prophets.As it is written,
16‘After these things I will return.I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.I will again build its ruins.I will set it up 17that the rest of men may seek after the Lord:all the Gentiles who are called by my name,says the Lord, who does all these things.’
18“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.19Therefore my judgment isthat we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,20but that we write to themthat they abstain from the pollution of idols,from sexual immorality,from what is strangled, and from blood.21For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him,being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”