1THE
ACTS
OF THE APOSTLES
WRITTEN BY
2LUKE
Acts 15 ©
1 In the church of Antioch arises a difference concerning the observation of circumcision and the Law of Moses. 2 About which Paul and Barnabas are sent to Jerusalem. 3 Where they relate the conversion of the Gentiles, and the state of the business. 6 The apostles and elders come together to treat hereof. 7 Peter declares in the same assembly that the Gentiles ought not to be burdened with the yoke of the law. 13 James assents to the same and confirms it by the Holy Scripture. 19 And concludes that no more ought to be laid upon them than the observation of four necessary things. 22 Which being approved by the whole assembly, is written to the churches, and by Barsabas and Silas, together with Paul and Barnabas, is sent over and made known (to them). 31 Who received the same with joy. 36 Paul and Barnabas being fallen at variance because of John Mark, part one from another. 39 Barnabas and Mark towards Cyprus. 40 And Paul with Silas towards Syria and Cilicia.
AND 1certain men which came down 2from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Excepta3ye be circumcised afterb the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
When therefore 4Paul and Barnabas had no small 5dissension and 6disputation with them, they 7determined thatc Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem 8unto the apostles and elders about this 9question.
And being brought on their way 10by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring 11the conversion of the Gentiles: and they 12caused 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 13with them.
14But there rose up certain of the 15sect of the Pharisees 16which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise 17them, and to command them to keep 18the law of Moses.
¶And the apostles and elders 19came together 20for to consider of this matter.
And when there had been much 21disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Mendand brethren, ye know how that 22a 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, whiche knoweth the hearts, bare them 23witness, giving them 24the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Andf put 25no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Now therefore why tempt ye God, tog put 26a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able 27to bear?
Buth we believe that through 28the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as 29they.
¶Then all 30the multitude 31kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
¶And after 32they had held their peace, 33James 34answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
35Simeon hath declared how God at the 36first did 37visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people 38for his name.
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Afteri this I will return, and will build again 39the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again 40the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
That the 41residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my 42name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Known unto God are all his works 43from the beginning of the world.
Wherefore my 44sentence is, that we 45trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
But that we write unto them, that they abstain fromj46pollutions of idols, and fromk47fornication, and from things 48strangled, and froml49blood.
For Moses of old 50time hath in every city them that preach him, 51being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, 52with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and 53Silas, 54chief men among the brethren:
And they wrote letters 55by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and 56brethren send 57greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Forasmuchm as we have heard, thatn certain 58which went out from us have troubled you with words, 59subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep 60the law: to whom we gave 61no 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 thato have 62hazarded 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 63by mouth.
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and 64to us, to lay upon you 65no greater burden than these 66necessary things;
Thatp ye abstain from 67meats offered to idols, and fromq blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication:r from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do 68well. 69Fare ye well.
So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered 70the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the 71consolation.
And Judas and Silas, being 72prophets also themselves, 73exhorted the brethren with many words, and 74confirmed them.
And after they had 75tarried there 76a space, they were let go 77in peace from the brethren 78unto the apostles.
Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
Paul also and Barnabas 79continued in Antioch, teaching and 80preaching 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 81how they do.
And Barnabas 82determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.s
But Paul 83thought not good to take him with them, who 84departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to 85the work.
And the 86contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
And Paul 87chose Silas, and departed, being 88recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming 89the churches.