| 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 . |
