The Acts of the Apostles

 1 And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be ^acircumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and ^adisputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the ^bapostles and elders about this question.

 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the ^aconversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

 4 And 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.

 5 But 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 ^alaw of Moses.

 6 ¶And the ^aapostles and ^belders came together for to consider of this matter.

 7 And when there had been much ^adisputing, ^bPeter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the ^cGentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the ^dgospel, and believe.

 8 And God, which ^aknoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

 9 And put no ^adifference between us and them, ^bpurifying their hearts by faith.

 10 Now therefore why ^atempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

 11 But we believe that through the ^agrace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

 12 ¶Then 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.

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

 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the ^aGentiles, to take out of them a people for his ^bname.

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

 16 After this I will return, and will build again the ^atabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

 17 That the ^aresidue 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.

 18 ^aKnown unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

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

 20 But that we write unto them, that they ^aabstain from ^bpollutions of idols, and from ^cfornication, and from things strangled, and from ^dblood.

 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being ^aread in the synagogues every sabbath day.

 22 Then 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:

 23 And they ^awrote ^bletters 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:

 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be ^acircumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with ^aone accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

 26 Men that have ^ahazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to ^aidols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

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

 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the ^aconsolation.

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

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

 34 Notwithstanding it pleased ^aSilas to abide there still.

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

 36 ¶And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and ^avisit our ^bbrethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them ^aJohn, whose surname was ^bMark.

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

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

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

 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, ^aconfirming the churches.