1 B ut some men came down from Judea and were instructing the brethren, Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved.

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2 A nd when Paul and Barnabas had no small disagreement and discussion with them, it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others of their number should go up to Jerusalem with the apostles (special messengers) and the elders about this matter.

And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.

3 S o, being fitted out and sent on their way by the church, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles (the heathen), and they caused great rejoicing among all the brethren.

Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren.

4 W hen they arrived in Jerusalem, they were heartily welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they told them all that God had accomplished through them.

When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

5 B ut some who believed '> acknowledged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him] belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, and they rose up and said, It is necessary to circumcise and to charge them to obey the Law of Moses.

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

6 T he apostles and the elders were assembled together to look into and consider this matter.

The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

7 A nd after there had been a long debate, Peter got up and said to them, Brethren, you know that quite a while ago God made a choice or selection from among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel '> attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] and believe (credit and place their confidence in it).

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

8 A nd God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;

And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

9 A nd He made no difference between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith ( by a strong and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God).

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

10 N ow then, why do you try to test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our forefathers nor we were able to endure?

Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11 B ut we believe that we are saved through the grace (the undeserved favor and mercy) of the Lord Jesus, just as they.

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12 T hen the whole assembly remained silent, and they listened as Barnabas and Paul rehearsed what signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles.

All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. James’s Judgment

13 W hen they had finished talking, James replied, Brethren, listen to me.

After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me.

14 S imeon has rehearsed how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people His name.

Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.

15 A nd with this the predictions of the prophets agree, as it is written,

With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

16 A fter this I will come back, and will rebuild the house of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up again,

‘ After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,

17 S o that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom My name has been invoked,

So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’

18 S ays the Lord, Who has been making these things known from the beginning of the world.

Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.

19 T herefore it is my opinion that we should not put obstacles in the way of and annoy and disturb those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,

20 B ut we should send word to them in writing to abstain from and avoid anything that has been polluted by being offered to idols, and all sexual impurity, and that have been strangled, and blood.

but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

21 F or from ancient generations Moses has had his preachers in every town, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22 T hen the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, resolved to select men from among their number and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, and sent them.

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

23 W ith the following letter: The brethren, both the apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings:

and they sent this letter by them, “ The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings.

24 A s we have heard that some persons from our number have disturbed you with their teaching, unsettling your minds and throwing you into confusion, although we gave them no express orders or instructions,

“Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,

25 I t has been resolved by us in assembly to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 M en who have hazarded their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

27 S o we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will bring you the same message by word of mouth.

“Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth.

28 F or it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay upon you any greater burden than these indispensable requirements:

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

29 T hat you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from that have been strangled and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell!

that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 S o when were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having assembled the congregation, they delivered the letter.

So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

31 A nd when they read it, the people rejoiced at the consolation and encouragement.

When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

32 A nd Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God), urged and warned and consoled and encouraged the brethren with many words and strengthened them.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message.

33 A nd after spending some time there, they were sent back by the brethren with peace to those who had sent them.

After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out.

34 H owever, Silas decided to stay on there.

'> But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.]

35 B ut Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch and with many others also continued teaching and proclaiming the good news, the Word of the Lord '> attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in God’s kingdom].

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

36 A nd after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit and help and minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along.

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”

37 N ow Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.

38 B ut Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

39 A nd there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40 B ut Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.

But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

41 A nd he passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing and strengthening the churches.

And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.