Acts 15

Worrell^{(i) 1} And some, coming down from Judaea, were teaching the brethren, "Unless ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved." ² And, when Paul and Barnabas had no little dissension and discussion with them, they arranged that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders, concerning this question. ³ They, therefore, having been sent forward by the assembly, went through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the gentiles; and they were causing great joy to all the brethren. ⁴ And, having come to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the assembly and apostles and elders; and they rehearsed as many things as God wrought with them. ⁵ But there rose up some from the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses." ⁶ And the apostles and the elders were assembled together to see about this matter. ⁷ And, much discussion having arisen, Peter, standing up, said to them, "Brethren, ye well know that, from early days, God made choice among you, that through my mouth the gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. ⁸ And the heart-knowing God bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as to us: ⁹ and He made no distinction between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why do ye tempt God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were strong enough to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as also they." ¹² And all the multitude kept silence: and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, recounting what signs and wonders God wrought among the gentiles through them. ¹³ And, after they were silent, James answered, saying, "Brethren, hear me. ¹⁴ Simeon declared how God first visited the gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name. ¹⁵ And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it has been written, ¹⁶ 'After these things I will return; and I will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; and the ruins thereof will I build again; and I will set it up; ¹⁷ that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, even all the gentiles upon whom My name has been called,' ¹⁸ saith the Lord, Who maketh these things known from of old. ¹⁹ Wherefore, I judge that we should not trouble those who from among the gentiles are turning to God; ²⁰ but that we write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from anything strangled, and from blood; ²¹ for Moses, from ancient generations, has in every city those preaching him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath." ²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with the whole assembly, to send men, chosen from themselves, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas who is surnamed Barsabas, and Silas—leading men among the brethren; ²³ having written through their hand thus: "The apostles, and the elders, brethren, to the brethren from the gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: ²⁴ Forasmuch as we heard that some from among us troubled you with words, unsettling your souls—to whom we gave no directions; ²⁵ it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, having chosen men, to send to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have given up their souls in behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas; themselves also reporting the same things to you by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ that ye abstain from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." ³⁰ So they being dismissed came down to Antioch; and, having assembled the multitude, they delivered the letter. ³¹ And, having read it, they rejoiced at the consolation. ³² And Judas and Silas, themselves also being prophets, exhorted the brethren in many words, and confirmed them. ³³ And, having spent a time there, they were sent away with peace from the brethren to those who had sent them. ³⁴ OMITTED TEXT. ³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming, with many others also, the good tidings of the word of the Lord. ³⁶ And, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "Turning about, let us visit the brethren in every city, in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." ³⁷ And Barnabas was desiring to take with them John also, who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul was not thinking it proper to take him with them, who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. ³⁹ And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted one from the other; and Barnabas, taking with him Mark, sailed away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ And Paul, haring chosen Silas, went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.