Acts
15
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8
9 10 11
12 13 14
15 16 17
18 19 20
21 22 23
24 25 26
27 28
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: 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. 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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