Chapter 15

  And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.  

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  And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.  

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  They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.  

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  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.  

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  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.  

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  And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.  

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  And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.  

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  And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;  

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

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  Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  

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  But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.  

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  And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.  

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  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:  

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  Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.  

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  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,  

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  After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:  

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  That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,  

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  Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.  

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  Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;  

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  but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.  

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  For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.  

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  Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:  

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  and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:  

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  Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;  

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  it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  

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  men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

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

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

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  that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.  

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  So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.  

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  And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.  

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

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  And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.  

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  [But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.]  

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  But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.  

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  And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare.  

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  And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.  

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  But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.  

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  And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;  

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  but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.  

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  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.  

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