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The Dispute over Circumcision
And certain persons, having come down from Judaea, taught the brethren, If ye shall not have been circumcised according to the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
And certain persons, having come down from Judaea, taught the brethren, If ye shall not have been circumcised according to the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
A commotion therefore having taken place, and no small discussion on the part of Paul and Barnabas against them, they arranged that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others from amongst them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.
They therefore, having been set on their way by the assembly, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of [those of] the nations. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.
The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them — much to everyone’s joy — that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
And being arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, and related all that God had wrought with them.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.
The Council at Jerusalem
And some of those who were of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, rose up from among [them], saying that they ought to circumcise them and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.
And some of those who were of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, rose up from among [them], saying that they ought to circumcise them and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.
But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”
And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.
And much discussion having taken place, Peter, standing up, said to them, Brethren, *ye* know that from the earliest days God amongst you chose that the nations by my mouth should hear the word of the glad tidings and believe.
At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.
And the heart-knowing God bore them witness, giving [them] the Holy Spirit as to us also,
God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
and put no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.
He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.
Now therefore why tempt ye God, by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
But we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as they also.
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
And all the multitude kept silence and listened to Barnabas and Paul relating all the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the nations by them.
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, listen to me:
When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.
Simon has related how God first visited to take out of [the] nations a people for his name.
And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written:
And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up,
so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is invoked, saith [the] Lord, who does these things
so that the rest of humanity might seek the LORD,
including the Gentiles —
all those I have called to be mine.
The LORD has spoken —
including the Gentiles —
all those I have called to be mine.
The LORD has spoken —
Wherefore *I* judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to God;
“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.
For Moses, from generations of old, has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole assembly, to send chosen men from among them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Judas called Barsabas and Silas, leading men among the brethren,
Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole assembly, to send chosen men from among them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Judas called Barsabas and Silas, leading men among the brethren,
The Letter for Gentile Believers
Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leadersf — Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.
having by their hand written [thus]: The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are from among [the] nations at Antioch, and [in] Syria and Cilicia, greeting:
This is the letter they took with them:
“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
Inasmuch as we have heard that some who went out from amongst us have troubled you by words, upsetting your souls, [saying that ye must be circumcised and keep the law]; to whom we gave no commandment;
“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!
it seemed good to us, having arrived at a common judgment, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will tell you by word [of mouth] the same things.
We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:
to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication; keeping yourselves from which ye will do well. Farewell.
You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”
The Believers at Antioch Rejoice
They therefore, being let go, came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude delivered to [them] the epistle.
They therefore, being let go, came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude delivered to [them] the epistle.
The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.
And having read it, they rejoiced at the consolation.
And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with much discourse, and strengthened them.
Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.
And having passed some time [there], they were let go in peace from the brethren to those who sent them.
And Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and announcing the glad tidings, with many others also, of the word of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.
Paul's Second Missionary Journey
But after certain days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city where we have announced the word of the Lord, [and see] how they are getting on.
But after certain days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city where we have announced the word of the Lord, [and see] how they are getting on.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.”
And Barnabas proposed to take with [them] John also, called Mark;
Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.
but Paul thought it not well to take with them him who had abandoned them, [going back] from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.
There arose therefore very warm feeling, so that they separated from one another; and Barnabas taking Mark sailed away to Cyprus;
Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.
but Paul having chosen Silas went forth, committed by the brethren to the grace of God.
Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.