AC-15:1  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.

AC-15:2  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.

AC-15:3  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.

AC-15:4  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.

AC-15:5  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.

AC-15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to

consider

of this matter.

AC-15:7  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.

AC-15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness,

giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us;

AC-15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying

their

hearts by faith.

AC-15:10  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?

AC-15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus

Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

AC-15:12  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.

AC-15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered,

saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me:

AC-15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the

Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

AC-15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is

written,

AC-15:16  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:

AC-15:17  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.

AC-15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of

the

world.

AC-15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them,

which

from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

AC-15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from

pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things

strangled, and [from] blood.

AC-15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that

preach

him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

AC-15:22  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:

AC-15:23  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:

AC-15:24  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:

AC-15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one

accord,

to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

AC-15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our

Lord Jesus Christ.

AC-15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also

tell [you] the same things by mouth.

AC-15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay

upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

AC-15:29  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.

AC-15:30  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and

when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the

epistle:

AC-15:31  [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the

consolation.

AC-15:32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves,

exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them].

AC-15:33  And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were

let

go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

AC-15:34  Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

AC-15:35  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching

and

preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

AC-15:36  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.

AC-15:37  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose

surname was Mark.

AC-15:38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who

departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the

work.

AC-15:39  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;

AC-15:40  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended

by

the brethren unto the grace of God.

AC-15:41  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the

churches.

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