Verse 1
And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Verse 2
And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Verse 3
They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Verse 4
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.
Verse 5
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
Verse 6
And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.
Verse 7
And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Verse 8
And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;
Verse 9
and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Verse 10
Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Verse 11
But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.
Verse 12
And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
Verse 13
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:
Verse 14
Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Verse 15
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Verse 16
After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:
Verse 17
That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
Verse 18
Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.
Verse 19
Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;
Verse 20
but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
Verse 21
For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
Verse 22
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Verse 23
and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
Verse 24
Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
Verse 25
it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Verse 26
men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 27
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.
Verse 28
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
Verse 29
that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.
Verse 30
So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
Verse 31
And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.
Verse 32
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
Verse 33
And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.
Verse 34
(Ommitted)
Verse 35
But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Verse 36
And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare.
Verse 37
And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.
Verse 38
But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
Verse 39
And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;
Verse 40
but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
Verse 41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.