15:1 And 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.
15:2 When 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.
15:3 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 to all the brethren.
15:4 And 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.
15:5 But 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.
15:6 And the apostles and elders came together to consider of
this matter.
15:7 And 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.
15:8 And God, who knoweth the hearts, bore them witness, giving
to them the Holy Spirit, even as [he did] to us:
15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their
hearts by faith.
15:10 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?
15:11 But we believe, that through the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, we shall be saved even as they.
15:12 Then 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.
15:13 And after they held their peace, James answered, saying,
Men, brethren, hearken to me.
15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first visited the
Gentiles to take from among them a people for his name.
15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is
written,
15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the
tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build
again the ruins of it; and I will set it up:
15:17 That 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.
15:18 Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the
world.
15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, who
from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
15:20 But that we write to them that they abstain from
pollutions of idols, and [from] lewdness, and [from] things
strangled, and [from] blood.
15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach
him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
15:22 Then 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:
15:23 And 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.
15:24 Forasmuch 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:
15:25 It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to
send chosen men to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul:
15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who will also tell
[you] the same things by mouth.
15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
15:29 That 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.
15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and
when they had convened the multitude, they delivered the
epistle.
15:31 [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the
consolation.
15:32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves,
exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them].
15:33 And after they had tarried [there] a time, they were
dismissed in peace from the brethren to the apostles.
15:34 Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to abide there still.
15:35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and
preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
15:36 And 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.
15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose
surname was Mark.
15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who
departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to
the work.
15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they
departed, separating one from the other: and so Barnabas took
Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.
15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being commended by the
brethren to the grace of God.
15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the
churches.
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