The Book of the Acts of the
Apostles
Acts Chapter 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this
matter.
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.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them
the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts
by faith.
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?
11 But we believe that 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, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the
Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men
and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the
Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
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:
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.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the
world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from
among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions
of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him,
being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
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:
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.
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:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send
chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you
the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you
no greater burden than these necessary things;
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.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they
had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted
the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in
peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and
preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
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.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname
was Mark.
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.
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;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the
brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
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