Acts

1Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers,“Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”

2Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

3They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.

4When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.

5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

7When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.

8God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

10Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,just as they are.”

12All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

13After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.

14Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

15This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

16‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

17that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

18“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

19Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

20but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

21For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.

23They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

24Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;

25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

30So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

31When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

33After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.

34

35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

38But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.

39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

40but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

1And some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.

2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the other side, should go up to the apostles and priests to Jerusalem about this question.

3They therefore being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them.

5But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.

6And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter.

7And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us;

9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.

12And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.

14Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name.

15And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

16After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:

17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.

18To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.

19For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.

20But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the 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 in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.

22Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.

23Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

24Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment:

25It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:

26Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.

28For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:

29That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.

30They therefore being dismissed, went down to Antioch; and gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.

31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32But Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, with many words comforted the brethren, and confirmed them.

33And after they had spent some time there, they were let go with peace by the brethren, unto them that had sent them.

34But it seemed good unto Silas to remain there; and Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.

35And Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord.

36And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and visit our brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they do.

37And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark;

38But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of Pamphylia, and not gone with them to the work) might not be received.

39And there arose a dissension, so that they departed one from another; and Barnabas indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

40But Paul choosing Silas, departed, being delivered by the brethren to the grace of God.

41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.