1 A nd 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.

But 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.

2 W hen 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.

And 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.

3 A nd 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.

So, 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.

4 A nd 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.

When 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.

5 B ut 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.

But 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.

6 A nd the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

The apostles and the elders were assembled together to look into and consider this matter.

7 A nd 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.

And 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).

8 A nd God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

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

9 A nd put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

And 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).

10 N ow 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?

Now 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?

11 B ut we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

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

12 T hen 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.

Then 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.

13 A nd after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

When they had finished talking, James replied, Brethren, listen to me.

14 S imeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

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

15 A nd to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

And with this the predictions of the prophets agree, as it is written,

16 A fter 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:

After 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,

17 T hat 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.

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

18 K nown unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Says the Lord, Who has been making these things known from the beginning of the world.

19 W herefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Therefore 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,

20 B ut that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

But 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.

21 F or Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

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

22 T hen 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:

Then 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.

23 A nd 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.

With 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:

24 F orasmuch 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:

As 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,

25 I t seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

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

26 M en that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Men who have hazarded their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 W e have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

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

28 F or it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

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

29 T hat 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.

That 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!

30 S o when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

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

31 W hich when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

And when they read it, the people rejoiced at the consolation and encouragement.

32 A nd Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

And 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.

33 A nd after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

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

34 N otwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

However, Silas decided to stay on there.

35 P aul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

But 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].

36 A nd 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.

And 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.

37 A nd Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

38 B ut Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

But 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.

39 A nd the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

And 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.

40 A nd Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

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

41 A nd he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing and strengthening the churches.