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 men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.”

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.” The Jerusalem Council

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

Now the apostles and elders came together to consider 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 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.

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.

So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

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 made no distinction between us and them, purifying 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 do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were 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 through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

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

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.

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

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and 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 declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

15 T his agrees with what the early preacher said,

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just 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 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;

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 rest of mankind may seek the L ord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all 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 to God from eternity are all His works.

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

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning 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 that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things 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 has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” The Jerusalem Decree

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 pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named 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.

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.

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.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “ You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such 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, being assembled with one accord, 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 risked 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 will also report the same things by word of mouth.

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 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

that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. Continuing Ministry in Syria

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

So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

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

When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

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

Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

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

And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.

34 B ut Silas thought he should stay there.

However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

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

Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Division over John Mark

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.”

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”

37 B arnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.

Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John 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 insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in 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.

Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed 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 chose Silas and departed, being commended 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 went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.