1. And certain men who came down from Judea taught the believers, and said, Unless you are circumcised after the manner of Moses, you 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 others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy to all the believers.
4. And when they came 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.
5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, That it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6. And the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them, Men and fellow believers, you know how a good while ago God decided among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8. And God, who knows the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did to us;
9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10. Now therefore why do you provoke 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 worked among the Gentiles by them.
13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and fellow believers, listen to me:
14. Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out from 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 rest of the people might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.
18. Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19. Therefore my conclusion is, that we do not trouble them, who from among the Gentiles have turned to God:
20. But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21. For Moses of old time has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
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 believers:
23. And they wrote letters by them as follows; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the believers which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24. Seeing that we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25. It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26. Men that have risked 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 Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29. That you abstain from foods offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Farewell.
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 believers with many words, and confirmed them.
33. And after they had stayed there for some time, they were sent away in peace from the brethren to the apostles.
34. However it pleased Silas to remain there still.
35. Paul also and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36. And some days afterwards Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our fellow believers in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.
37. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38. But Paul thought it not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work.
39. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they separated from one another: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;
40. And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the believers to the grace of God.
41. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.