Acts of the Apostles 15

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Then some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers, 'Unless you have yourselvescircumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.'	1 And some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.
2 This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it wasdecided that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the questionwith the apostles and elders.	2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the other side, should go up to the apostles and priests to Jerusalem about this question.
3 The members of the church saw them off, and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria theytold how the gentiles had been converted, and this news was received with the greatest satisfaction by al thebrothers.	3 They therefore being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders,and gave an account of al that God had done through them.	4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them.
5 But certain members of the Pharisees' party who had become believers objected, insisting that gentilesshould be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law of Moses.	5 But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.
6 The apostles and elders met to look into the matter,	6 And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter.
7 and after a long discussion, Peter stood up and addressed them. 'My brothers,' he said, 'you knowperfectly wel that in the early days God made his choice among you: the gentiles were to learn the good newsfrom me and so become believers.	7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, who can read everyone's heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit tothem just as he had to us.	8 And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us;
9 God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith.	9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Why do you put God to the test now by imposing on the disciples the very burden that neither ourancestors nor we ourselves were strong enough to support?	10 Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 But we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus.'	11 But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.
12 The entire assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing al the signs andwonders God had worked through them among the gentiles.	12 And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 When they had finished it was James who spoke. 'My brothers,' he said, 'listen to me.	13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.
14 Simeon has described how God first arranged to enlist a people for his name out of the gentiles.	14 Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name.
15 This is entirely in harmony with the words of the prophets, since the scriptures say:	15 And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:
16 After that I shal return and rebuild the fal en hut of David; I shal make good the gaps in it and restoreit.	16 After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:
17 Then the rest of humanity, and of al the nations once cal ed mine, will look for the Lord, says the Lordwho made this	17 That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.
18 known so long ago.	18 To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.
19 'My verdict is, then, that instead of making things more difficult for gentiles who turn to God,	19 For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.
20 we should send them a letter tel ing them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from il icitmarriages, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.	20 But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has always had his preachers in every town and is read aloud in the synagogues everySabbath.'	21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose delegates from amongthemselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas, known as Barsabbas, and Silas, bothleading men in the brotherhood,	22 Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
23 and gave them this letter to take with them: 'The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings tothe brothers of gentile birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.	23 Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.
24 We hear that some people coming from here, but acting without any authority from ourselves, havedisturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds;	24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment:
25 and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with our wel -beloved Barnabas and Paul,	25 It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:
26 who have committed their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.	26 Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who wil confirm by word of mouth what we havewritten.	27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.
28 It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to impose on you any burden beyondthese essentials:	28 For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:
29 you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals andfrom illicit marriages. Avoid these, and you wil do what is right. Farewel .'	29 That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 The party left and went down to Antioch, where they summoned the whole community and deliveredthe letter.	30 They therefore being dismissed, went down to Antioch; and gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.
31 The community read it and were delighted with the encouragement it gave them.	31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 Judas and Silas, being themselves prophets, spoke for a long time, encouraging and strengtheningthe brothers.	32 But Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, with many words comforted the brethren, and confirmed them.
33 These two spent some time there, and then the brothers wished them peace andwent back to thosewho had sent them.	33 And after they had spent some time there, they were let go with peace by the brethren, unto them that had sent them.
34	34 But it seemed good unto Silas to remain there; and Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.
35 Paul and Barnabas, however, stayed on in Antioch, and there with many others they taught andproclaimed the good news, the word of the Lord.	35 And Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord.
36 On a later occasion Paul said to Barnabas, 'Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the townswhere we preached the word of the Lord, so that we can see how they are doing.'	36 And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and visit our brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they do.
37 Barnabas suggested taking John Mark,	37 And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark;
38 but Paul was not in favour of taking along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and hadrefused to share in their work.	38 But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of Pamphylia, and not gone with them to the work) might not be received.
39 There was sharp disagreement so that they parted company, and Barnabas sailed off with Mark toCyprus.	39 And there arose a dissension, so that they departed one from another; and Barnabas indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.
40 Before Paul left, he chose Silas to accompany him and was commended by the brothers to the graceof God.	40 But Paul choosing Silas, departed, being delivered by the brethren to the grace of God.
41 He travel ed through Syria and Cilicia, consolidating the churches.	41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.