^{1 Ref} Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can't be saved."

^{2 Ref} Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

^{3 Ref} They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}

^{4 Ref} When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

^{5 Ref} But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."

^{6 Ref} The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

^{7 Ref} When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you 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.

^{8 Ref} God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

^{9 Ref} He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

^{10 Ref} Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

^{11 Ref} But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,{TR adds "Christ"} just as they are."

^{12 Ref} All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

^{13 Ref} After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.

^{14 Ref} Simeon has reported how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

^{15 Ref} This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

^{16 Ref} 'After these things I will return. I will again build the tent of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up,

^{17 Ref} That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles who are called by my name, Says the Lord, who does all these things.

^{18 Ref} All his works are known to God from eternity.'

^{19 Ref} "Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

^{20 Ref} but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

^{21 Ref} For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

^{22 Ref} Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}

^{23 Ref} They wrote these things by their hand: "The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

^{24 Ref} Because 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 commandment;

^{25 Ref} it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

^{26 Ref} men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

^{27 Ref} We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

^{28 Ref} For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

^{29 Ref} that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell."

^{30 Ref} So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

^{31 Ref} When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

^{32 Ref} Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.

^{33 Ref} After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles.

³⁴ {Some manuscripts add: But it seemed good to Silas to stay there.}

^{35 Ref} But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

^{36 Ref} After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing."

^{37 Ref} Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

^{38 Ref} But Paul didn't think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn't go with them to do the work.

^{39 Ref} Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,

^{40 Ref} but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

^{41 Ref} He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

^{1 Ref} 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.

^{2 Ref} 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.

^{3 Ref} 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.

^{4 Ref} 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.

^{5 Ref} 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.

^{6 Ref} And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.

^{7 Ref} 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.

^{8 Ref} And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;

^{9 Ref} and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

^{10 Ref} 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?

^{11 Ref} But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.

^{12 Ref} 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.

^{13 Ref} And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:

^{14 Ref} Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

^{15 Ref} And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

^{16 Ref} 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:

^{17 Ref} That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,

^{18 Ref} Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

^{19 Ref} Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;

^{20 Ref} 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.

^{21 Ref} For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

^{22 Ref} 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:

^{23 Ref} 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:

^{24 Ref} 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;

^{25 Ref} 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,

^{26 Ref} men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

^{27 Ref} We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.

^{28 Ref} For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

^{29 Ref} 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.

^{30 Ref} So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.

^{31 Ref} And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.

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

^{33 Ref} And after they had spent some time `there', they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.

³⁴ `But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.'

^{35 Ref} But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

^{36 Ref} 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.

^{37 Ref} And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.

^{38 Ref} But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

^{39 Ref} 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;

^{40 Ref} but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.

^{41 Ref} And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.