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.
02 When 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.
03 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.
04 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.
05 But 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.
06 And the apostles and elders came together for
to consider of this matter.
07 And 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.
08 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them
witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he
did unto us;
09 And put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now 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?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as
they.
12 Then 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.
13 And after they had held their peace, James
answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto
me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did
visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people
for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets;
as it is written,
16 After 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:
17 That 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.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the
beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not
them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to
God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain
from pollutions of idols, and from fornication,
and from things strangled, and from blood.
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21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them
that preach him, being read in the synagogues
every sabbath day.
22 Then 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:
23 And 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.
24 Forasmuch 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:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with
one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who
shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to
us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these
necessary things;
29 That 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.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to
Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude
together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for
the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also
themselves, exhorted the brethren with many
words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they
were let go in peace from the brethren unto the
apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide
there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch,
teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with
many others also.
36 And 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.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them
John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with
them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and
went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them,
that they departed asunder one from the other:
and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto
Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being
recommended by the brethren unto the grace of
God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia,
confirming the churches.
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