The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles 179 [c] 5 Those who had ordered them 5 Some people from among the to go up to the elders intervened, party of the Pharisees who had saying (they were certain people believed intervened, saying, ‘It is from the party of the Pharisees necessary to circumcise them and who had believed), ‘It is necessary also order them to keep the Law of to circumcise them and, indeed, to Moses’; order them to keep the Law of Mo- ses’. [d] 6 The apostles and elders assem- 6 and so, the apostles and the elders bled to see about this matter. assembled to see about this matter. [d'] 7a When there had been much ar- 7a When there had been much de- gument, Peter stood up in the Spirit bate Peter, having stood up, said to and said to them, them, [α] 7b ‘Men, brothers, you know that 7b ‘Men, brothers, you know that ever since the days of old God’s from the early days God chose choice for us was that through my from among you that it should be mouth the Gentiles would hear the through my mouth that the Genti- message of the gospel and believe. les would hear the message of the 8 Now, he who knows the heart, gospel and believe, 8 and God who God, witnessed to them, when he knows the heart witnessed to them, gave upon them the Holy Spirit when he gave to them the Holy Spi- just as to us, 9 and he made no rit just as to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. cleansing their hearts by faith. [β] 10 So now why do you put God to 10 So now why do you put God to the test by placing a yoke on the the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been strong our fathers nor we have been strong enough to bear? 11 Instead, we enough to bear? 11 Instead, we be- will continue believing that it is lieve that it is through the grace of through the grace of the Lord Jes- the Lord Jesus that we are saved, in us Christ that we are saved, in just just the same way as they are.’ the same way as they are.’ [c'] 12 Since all the elders gave their 12 All the meeting fell silent and agreement to what Peter had said, listened to Barnabas and Paul ex- all the meeting fell silent and lis- plaining what signs and wonders tened to Barnabas and Paul ex- God had done among the nations plaining what signs and wonders through them. God had done among the nations through them. [b'] 13a After they had been si- 13a After they had been si- lent, James got up and said, lent, James answered saying, [α] 13b ‘Men, brothers, listen to me. 13b ‘Men, brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon explained, just as God 14 Simeon has explained how God in the beginning visited the na- first visited the nations to take tions to take from them a peo- from them a people for his name, ple for his name, 15 so, indeed, 15 and with this the words of the the words of the Prophets will Prophets agree, just as it is writ-