And when there had been great disputation, Peter rose up, and said unto them, (A)[a]Ye men and brethren, ye know that a [b]good while ago, among us God chose out me, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe.

And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, in giving unto them the holy Ghost even as he did unto us.

And he put no [c]difference between us and them, after that (B)[d]by faith he had purified their hearts.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:7 God himself in calling of the Gentiles which are uncircumcised, did teach that our salvation doth consist in faith without the worship appointed by the Law.
  2. Acts 15:7 Word for word, of old time, that is, even from the first time that we were commanded to preach the Gospel, and straightways after that the holy Ghost came down upon us.
  3. Acts 15:9 He put no difference between us and them, as touching the benefit of his free favor.
  4. Acts 15:9 Christ pronounceth them Blessed, which are pure of heart: and here we are plainly taught that men are made such by faith.

After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.(A) God, who knows the heart,(B) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,(C) just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them,(D) for he purified their hearts by faith.(E)

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