Acts 15

ERV^{(i) 1} And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. ² And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. ³ They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia 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 the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them. ⁵ But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. ⁶ And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. ⁷ And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. ⁸ And God, which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; ⁹ and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they. ¹² And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. ¹³ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me: ¹⁴ Symeon hath rehearsed how first God 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 these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: ¹⁷ That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, ¹⁸ Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world. ¹⁹ Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles turn to God; ²⁰ but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. ²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: ²³ and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elder brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: ²⁴ Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; ²⁵ it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them 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 themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of 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 things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. ³⁰ So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. ³¹ And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. ³² And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. ³³ And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth. ^{34 35} But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. ³⁶ And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare. ³⁷ And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought not good to take with them him 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 asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus; ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.