1And certain men who came down from Judea, taught the brethren, and said , Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3And 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 to all the brethren.
4And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5But there rose certain of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6And the apostles and elders came together to consider of this matter.
7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose and said to them, Men, brethren, ye know 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.
8And God, who knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving to them the Holy Spirit, even as he did to us:
9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10Now 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?
11But we believe, that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be saved even as they.
12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought by them among the Gentiles.
13And after they held their peace, James answered, saying, Men, brethren, hearken to me.
14Simeon hath declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for his name.
15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins of it; and I will set it up:
17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, who from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20But that we write to them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from lewdness, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
22Then it pleased 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:
23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles, and elders, and brethren, send greeting to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.
24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain who 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:
25It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul:
26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by mouth.
28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29That ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from lewdness: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye will do well. Fare ye well.
30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had convened the multitude, they delivered the epistle.
31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them .
33And after they had tarried there a time, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to the apostles.
34Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36And some days after, Paul said to 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.
37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed, separating one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.
40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.