The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

Then came downe certaine from Iudea, and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the maner of Moses, ye cannot be saued.

And when there was great dissension, and disputation by Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordeyned that Paul and Barnabas, and certaine other of them, should goe vp to Hierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders about this question.

Thus being brought forth by ye Church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conuersion of the Gentiles, and they brought great ioy vnto all the brethren.

And when they were come to Hierusalem, they were receiued of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders, and they declared what things God had done by them.

The Council at Jerusalem

(Amos 9:11–15; Galatians 2:1–10)

But said they, certaine of the sect of the Pharises, which did beleeue, rose vp, saying, that it was needefull to circumcise them, and to commaund them to keepe the lawe of Moses.

Then the Apostles and Elders came together to looke to this matter.

And when there had bene great disputation, Peter rose vp, and said vnto them, Ye men and brethren, ye know that a good while ago, among vs God chose out me, that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the worde of the Gospel, and beleeue.

And God which knoweth the heartes, bare them witnesse, in giuing vnto them ye holy Ghost euen as he did vnto vs.

And he put no difference betweene vs and them, after that by faith he had purified their heartes.

Nowe therefore, why tempt ye God, to lay a yoke on the disciples neckes, which neither our fathers, nor we were able to beare?

But we beleeue, through the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ to be saued, euen as they doe.

Then all the multitude kept silence, and heard Barnabas and Paul, which told what signes and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.

And when they helde their peace, Iames answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken vnto me.

Simeon hath declared, howe God first did visite the Gentiles, to take of them a people vnto his Name.

And to this agree the woordes of the Prophets, as it is written,

After this I will returne, and will builde againe the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe, and the ruines thereof will I build againe, and I will set it vp,

That the residue of men might seeke after the Lord, and all the Gentiles vpon whom my Name is called, saith the Lord which doeth all these things.

From the beginning of the worlde, God knoweth all his workes.

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them of the Gentiles that are turned to God,

But that we send vnto them, that they abstaine themselues from filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from blood.

For Moses of olde time hath in euery citie them that preache him, seeing he is read in the Synagogues euery Sabbath day.

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

Then it seemed good to the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church, to sende chosen men of their owne companie to Antiochia with Paul and Barnabas: to wit, Iudas whose surname was Barsabas and Silas, which were chiefe men among the brethren,

And wrote letters by them after this maner, THE APOSTLES, and the Elders, and the brethren, vnto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antiochia, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, send greeting.

Forasmuch as we haue heard, that certaine which went out from vs, haue troubled you with wordes, and cumbred your mindes, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keepe the Lawe: to whom we gaue no such commandement,

It seemed therefore good to vs, when we were come together with one accord, to send chosen men vnto you, with our beloued Barnabas and Paul,

Men that haue giuen vp their liues for the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ.

We haue therefore sent Iudas and Silas, which shall also tell you ye same things by mouth.

For it seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to vs, to lay no more burden vpon you, then these necessary things,

That is, that ye abstaine from things offered to idoles, and blood, and that that is strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keepe your selues, ye shall doe well. Fare ye well.

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

Nowe when they were departed, they came to Antiochia, and after that they had assembled the multitude, they deliuered the Epistle.

And when they had read it, they reioyced for the consolation.

And Iudas and Silas being Prophets, exhorted the brethren with many wordes, and strengthened them.

And after they had taried there a space, they were let goe in peace of the brethren vnto the Apostles.

Notwithstanding Silas thought good to abide there still.

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antiochia, teaching and preaching with many other, the worde of the Lord.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins

(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)

But after certaine dayes, Paul said vnto Barnabas, Let vs returne, and visite our brethren in euery citie, where we haue preached the worde of the Lord, and see how they doe.

And Barnabas counselled to take with them Iohn, called Marke.

But Paul thought it not meete to take him vnto their companie, which departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the worke.

Then were they so stirred, that they departed asunder one from the other, so that Barnabas tooke Marke, and sailed vnto Cyprus.

And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended of the brethren vnto the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, stablishing the Churches.

Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers,(a) “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”

Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.

When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.

The Council at Jerusalem

(Amos 9:11–15; Galatians 2:1–10)

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.

God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,(b) just as they are.”

All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.

Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’(c)

“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.(d)

They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;

it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.

(e)

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins

(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.

Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

Footnotes

(a)15:1 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(b)15:11 TR adds “Christ”

(d)15:22 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(e)15:34 Some manuscripts add: But it seemed good to Silas to stay there.