Chapter Fifteen And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren,
and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
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.
And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Pharnasi and
Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great joy unto
all the brethren.
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.
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.
And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
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.
And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy
Ghost, even as he did unto us, and put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith.
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?
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved,
even as they.
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.
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren,
hearken unto me.
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of
them a people for his name.
And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, 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, 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.
Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Wherefore, my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles
are turned to God, but that we write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of
idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the
synagogues every sabbath day.
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
Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
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.
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, it seemed good unto us,
being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by
mouth.
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater
burden than these necessary things, 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.
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch.
And when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle,
which, when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with
many words, and confirmed them.
And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the
brethren unto the apostles.
Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to abide there still.
Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word
of the Lord with many others also.
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.
And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from
Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
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.
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the
grace of God.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.