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. |
2 | 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. |
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. |
5
| 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. |
6 | And the
apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. |
7 | 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. |
8 | And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness,
giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; |
9 | 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:
Amos 9:11
|
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.
Amos 9:12
|
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. |
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. |