Afterthey had stopped speaking,Jamesanswered,saying,"Brethren,listento me.
There were also[some] womenlookingon from a distance,amongwhom[were] MaryMagdalene,and Marythe motherof Jamesthe Lessand Joses,and Salome.
But motioningto them with his handto be silent,he describedto them howthe Lordhad ledhim out of the prison.And he said,"Reportthese thingsto Jamesand the brethren."Thenhe leftand wentto anotherplace.
"Simeonhas relatedhowGodfirstconcerned Himself abouttakingfrom amongthe Gentilesa peoplefor His name.
But Peter,taking his standwith the eleven,raisedhis voiceand declaredto them: "Menof Judeaand allyou who livein Jerusalem,let thisbe knownto you and give heedto my words.
"Menof Israel,listento thesewords:Jesusthe Nazarene,a manattestedto you by Godwith miraclesand wondersand signswhichGodperformedthroughHim in your midst,justas you yourselvesknow--
"Brethren,I mayconfidentlysayto you regardingthe patriarchDavidthat he bothdiedand was buried,and his tombis with us to thisday.
And the followingday Paulwentin with us to James,and allthe elderswere present.
"Brethrenand fathers,hearmy defensewhich I now[offer] to you."
And he said,"Hearme, brethrenand fathers!The Godof gloryappearedto our fatherAbrahamwhen he was in Mesopotamia,beforehe livedin Haran,
But I did not seeany otherof the apostlesexceptJames,the Lord'sbrother.
For priorto the comingof certain menfrom James,he used to eatwith the Gentiles;but whenthey came,he [began] to withdrawand holdhimselfaloof,fearingthe party of the circumcision.
and recognizingthe gracethat had been givento me, Jamesand Cephasand John,who were reputedto be pillars,gaveto me and Barnabasthe right handof fellowship,sothat we [might] [go] to the Gentilesand they to the circumcised.
James,a bond-servantof Godand of the LordJesusChrist,To the twelvetribeswhoare dispersedabroad: Greetings.
[This] you know,my belovedbrethren.But everyonemust be quickto hear,slowto speak[and] slowto anger;
