1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren,
and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot
be saved. 2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and
disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and
certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and
elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed
through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles:
and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the
church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things
that God had done with them.
5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which
believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command
them to keep the law of Moses.
6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said
unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made
choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of
the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them
witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9And put no
difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10Now
therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11But we
believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be
saved, even as they.
12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to
Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought
among the Gentiles by them.
13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men
and brethren, hearken unto me: 14Simeon hath declared how God at the
first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of
David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof,
and I will set it up: 17That the residue of men might seek after the
Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord,
who doeth all these things.
18Known unto God are all his works from the
beginning of the world.
19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not
them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20But that we
write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from
fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses of
old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the
synagogues every sabbath day.
22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church,
to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among
the brethren:
23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The
apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which
are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24Forasmuch as we
have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with
words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep
the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25It seemed good unto us,
being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26Men that have hazarded their lives for the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas,
who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28For it seemed good
to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than
these necessary things; 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols,
and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from
which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they
had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32And
Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren
with many words, and confirmed them.
33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in
peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34Notwithstanding it pleased
Silas to abide there still. 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in
Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others
also.
36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again
and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of
the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with
them John, whose surname was Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take
him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with
them to the work.
39And the contention was so sharp between them, that
they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and
sailed unto Cyprus; 40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being
recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41And he went through
Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.