(KJV) Acts 15¹

<< Acts 14

Acts 16 >>

⥃The Dispute over Circumcision

[1] And certain² men which came down from Judea taught the brethren³, [and said], Except⁴ ye be circumcised after⁵ the manner of Moses, ye⁶ cannot be saved.⁷ [2] When therefore Paul⁸ and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined⁹ that Paul and Barnabas, and certain¹⁰ other of them, should¹¹ go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles¹² and elders about this question. [3] And being brought¹³ on their way by the church, they passed¹⁴ through Phenice and Samaria, declaring¹⁵ the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused¹⁶ great joy unto all the brethren. [4] And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received¹⁷ of the church, and [of] the apostles and elders, and they declared all¹⁸ things that God had done with them.

⥃The Council at Jerusalem ^{[ Amos 9:11–15 † Galatians 2:1–10 ]}

[5] But there rose up certain¹⁹²⁰ of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it²¹ was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.

[6] And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.²² [7] And when there had been much²³ disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men [and] brethren, ye know²⁴ how that a good while ago God²⁵ made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my²⁶ mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. [8] And God, which²⁷ knoweth the hearts, bare²⁸ them witness, giving²⁹ them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us; [9] And put³⁰ no difference between us and them, purifying³¹ their hearts by faith. [10] Now therefore why³² tempt ye God, to put³³ a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which³⁴ neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [11] But we believe that³⁵ through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

[12] [¶]Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring³⁶ what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

[13] And after³⁷ they had held their peace, James³⁸ answered, saying, Men³⁹ [and] brethren, hearken unto me: [14] Simeon⁴⁰ hath declared⁴¹ how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take⁴² out of them a people for his name. [15] And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,⁴³ [16] After this⁴⁴ I will return, and will build again the tabernacle⁴⁵ of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue⁴⁶ of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles⁴⁷, upon who⁴⁸m my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. [18] Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.⁴⁹ [19] Wherefore my sentence is, that⁵⁰ we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned⁵¹ to God: [20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions⁵² of idols, and [from] fornication⁵³, and [from] things⁵⁴ strangled, and [from] blood. [21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath⁵⁵ day.

⥃The Letter to the Gentile Believers

[22] Then pleased⁵⁶ it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send⁵⁷ chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas⁵⁸, and Silas⁵⁹, chief men among the brethren: [23] And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles⁶⁰ and elders and brethren [send] greeting⁶¹ unto the brethren⁶² which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria⁶³ and Cilicia: [24] Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain⁶⁴ which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must⁶⁵] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment: [25] It seemed⁶⁶ good unto us, being⁶⁷ assembled with one accord, to send⁶⁸ chosen men unto you with our⁶⁹ beloved Barnabas⁷⁰ and Paul, [26] Men that have hazarded⁷¹ their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [27] We have sent therefore Judas⁷² and Silas, who⁷³ shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth⁷⁴. [28] For it⁷⁵ seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater⁷⁶ burden than these necessary things; [29] That ye abstain⁷⁷ from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye⁷⁸ keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare⁷⁹ ye well.

⥃The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

[30] So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and⁸⁰ when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered⁸¹ the epistle: [31] [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced⁸² for the consolation⁸³. [32] And Judas and Silas, being⁸⁴ prophets also themselves, exhorted⁸⁵ the brethren with many words, and confirmed⁸⁶ [them]. [33] And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were⁸⁷ let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. [34] Notwithstanding it pleased⁸⁸ Silas to abide there still. [35] Paul also and Barnabas continued⁸⁹ in Antioch, teaching⁹⁰ 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 ]}

[36] And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let⁹¹ us go again and visit our brethren in every⁹² city where we have preached the word of the Lord, [and see⁹³] how they do.⁹⁴ [37] And Barnabas determined to take with them John⁹⁵, whose surname was Mark. [38] But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who⁹⁶ departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. [39] And the contention⁹⁷ was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed⁹⁸ unto Cyprus; [40] And Paul chose⁹⁹ Silas, and departed, being¹⁰⁰ recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. [41] And he went through¹⁰¹ Syria and Cilicia, confirming¹⁰² the churches.

<< Acts 14

Acts 16 >>