Acts of the Apostles 15

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved."	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 Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question.	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 They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.	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 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them.	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 some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."	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 The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.	6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.	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, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us.	8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.	9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?	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 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they."	11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.	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 After they had fallen silent, James responded, "My brothers, listen to me.	13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Symeon has described how God first concerned himself with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.	14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:	15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 'After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins I shall rebuild it and raise it up again,	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 so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked. Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,	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 from of old.'	18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,	19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols, unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.	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, for generations now, has had those who proclaim him in every town, as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath."	21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers.	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 This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.	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 Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,	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 we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,	25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.	26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:	27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 'It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,	28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"	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 And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.	30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.	31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted and strengthened the brothers with many words.	32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent off with greetings of peace from the brothers to those who had commissioned them.	33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34	34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming with many others the word of the Lord.	35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us make a return visit to see how the brothers are getting on in all the cities where we proclaimed the word of the Lord."	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 Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called Mark,	37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 but Paul insisted that they should not take with them someone who had deserted them at Pamphylia and who had not continued with them in their work.	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 So sharp was their disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.	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 But Paul chose Silas and departed after being commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.	40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia bringing strength to the churches.	41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.