1 S ome men came down from the country of Judea and started to teach the Christians. They said, “Unless you go through the religious act of becoming a Jew as Moses taught, you cannot be saved from the punishment of sin.”

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.

2 P aul and Barnabas argued with them. Then Paul and Barnabas and some other men were chosen to go up to Jerusalem. They were to talk to the missionaries and church leaders about this teaching.

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.

3 T he church sent them on their way. They went through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria and told how those who were not Jews were turning to God. This made the Christians very happy.

They therefore, having been set on their way by the assembly, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the nations. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.

4 W hen they got to Jerusalem, the church and the missionaries and the church leaders were glad to see them. Paul and Barnabas told them what God had done through them.

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.

5 S ome of the Christians there had been proud religious law-keepers. They got up and said, “Doing the religious act of becoming a Jew and keeping the Law of Moses are two things that must be done.”

And some of those who were of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, rose up from among, saying that they ought to circumcise them and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.

6 T he missionaries and church leaders got together to talk about this.

And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

7 A fter a long time of much talking, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know in the early days God was pleased to use me to preach the Good News to the people who are not Jews so they might put their trust in Christ.

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.

8 G od knows the hearts of all men. He showed them they were to have His loving-favor by giving them the Holy Spirit the same as He gave to us.

And the heart-knowing God bore them witness, giving the Holy Spirit as to us also,

9 H e has made no difference between them and us. They had their hearts made clean when they put their trust in Him also.

and put no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.

10 W hy do you test God by putting too heavy a load on the back of the followers? It was too heavy for our fathers or for us to carry.

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?

11 W e believe it is by the loving-favor of the Lord Jesus that we are saved. They are saved from the punishment of sin the same way.”

But we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as they also.

12 A ll those who were gathered together said nothing. They listened to Paul and Barnabas who told of the powerful works God had done through them among the people who are not Jews. God’s Call Is Also for the People Who Are Not Jews

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.

13 W hen they finished speaking, James said, “Brothers, listen to me.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, listen to me:

14 S imon Peter has told how God first visited the people who are not Jews. He was getting a people for Himself.

Simon has related how God first visited to take out of nations a people for his name.

15 T his agrees with what the early preacher said,

And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written:

16 ’ After this I will come back and build again the building of David that fell down. Yes, I will build it again from the stones that fell down. I will set it up again.

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,

17 T hen all the nations may look for the Lord, even all the people who are not Jews who are called by My name. The Lord said this. He does all these things.

so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is invoked, saith Lord, who does these things

18 G od has made all His works known from the beginning of time.’ The People Who Are Not Jews Are Not Under the Law

known from eternity.

19 “ So we should not trouble these people who are not Jews who are turning to God.

Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to God;

20 W e should write to them that they should keep away from everything that is given to gods. They should keep away from sex sins and not eat blood or meat from animals that have been killed in ways against the Law.

but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

21 F or the Law of Moses has been read in every city from the early days. It has been read in the Jewish places of worship on every Day of Rest.”

For Moses, from generations of old, has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

22 T hen the missionaries and the church leaders and the whole church chose some men from among them. They were to be sent to the city of Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas. These men were leaders among the Christians.

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,

23 T hey sent them with this letter: “The missionaries and church leaders and Christians greet the brothers who are not Jews in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

having by their hand written: The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are from among nations at Antioch, and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:

24 W e have heard that some from our group have troubled you and have put doubt in your minds. They said that you must go through the religious act of becoming a Jew and you must keep the Law of Moses. We did not tell them to say these things.

Inasmuch as we have heard that some who went out from amongst us have troubled you by words, upsetting your souls,; to whom we gave no commandment;

25 A ll of us have wanted to send men to you with our much-loved Paul and Barnabas.

it seemed good to us, having arrived at a common judgment, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 T heir lives have been in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

27 S o now we send Judas and Silas to you. They will tell you the same things.

We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will tell you by word the same things.

28 I t pleased the Holy Spirit and us to ask you to do nothing more than these things that have to be done.

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

29 Y ou are to keep away from everything that is given to gods. Do not eat blood or meat from animals that have been killed in ways against the Law. Keep away from sex sins. If you keep yourselves free from these things you will do well. Good-by.” The Missionaries Go Back to Antioch

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.

30 W hen the meeting was finished, they went to Antioch. As soon as they gathered the people together, they gave them the letter.

They therefore, being let go, came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude delivered to the epistle.

31 W hen they read it, they were glad for the comfort and strength it brought them.

And having read it, they rejoiced at the consolation.

32 J udas and Silas were preachers also. They preached to the Christians and helped them to become stronger in the faith.

And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with much discourse, and strengthened them.

33 T hey were there for some time. Then they were sent back in peace to the missionaries who had sent them.

And having passed some time, they were let go in peace from the brethren to those who sent them.

34 B ut Silas thought he should stay there.

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 P aul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. With the help of many others, they preached and taught the Word of God. Paul Starts Out the Second Time

And Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and announcing the glad tidings, with many others also, of the word of the Lord.

36 A fter awhile, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the Christians in every city where we have preached the Word of God. Let us see how they are doing.”

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, how they are getting on.

37 B arnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.

And Barnabas proposed to take with John also, called Mark;

38 P aul did not think it was good to take him because he had left them while they were in Pamphylia. He had not helped them in the work.

but Paul thought it not well to take with them him who had abandoned them, from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

39 T hey argued so much that they left each other. Barnabas took John Mark with him and went by ship to the island of Cyprus.

There arose therefore very warm feeling, so that they separated from one another; and Barnabas taking Mark sailed away to Cyprus;

40 P aul chose Silas. After the Christians asked for the Lord’s favor to be on Paul and Silas, they went on their way.

but Paul having chosen Silas went forth, committed by the brethren to the grace of God.

41 T hey went through Syria and Cilicia making the churches stronger in the faith.

And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.