Welcome to our website where we explore the Bible! Pleasure to meet you here!
May your journey into the world of the Holy Scriptures be engaging and inspiring!
You can change reading language: uk ru
Parallel
New Living Translation
New King James Version
Conflict over Circumcision
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
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.
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
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.
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
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.
And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
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.”
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.”
So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.
The Jerusalem Council
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
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 when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.
and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.
Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
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 —
“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
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 these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
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.
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!
They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!
So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report 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 few requirements:
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
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 messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.
Continuing Ministry in Syria
So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.
When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.
Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.