The Jerusalem Council
aBut some men came down from Judea and were teaching bthe brothers, “Unless you are ccircumcised daccording to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and adebate with them, Paul and Barnabas and bsome of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to cthe apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, abeing sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, bdescribing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and cbrought great joy to all dthe brothers. 4 aWhen they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and bthe apostles and the elders, and cthey declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to athe party of the Pharisees rose up and said, b“It is necessary cto circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 aThe bapostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much adebate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, bthat by my mouth the Gentiles should hear cthe word of dthe gospel and believe. 8 And God, awho knows the heart, bbore witness to them, cby giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and ahe made no distinction between us and them, bhaving cleansed their hearts cby faith. 10 Now, therefore, why aare you putting God to the test bby placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples cthat neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we abelieve that we will be bsaved through cthe grace of the Lord Jesus, djust as they will.”
12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul aas they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, aJames replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 aSimeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ba people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 a“‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind amay seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles bwho are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things
18 aknown from of old.’
19 Therefore amy judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who bturn to God, 20 but should write to them ato abstain from bthe things polluted by idols, and from csexual immorality, and from dwhat has been strangled, and from dblood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, afor he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then it seemed good to athe apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called bBarsabbas, and cSilas, leading men among dthe brothers, 23 with the following letter: a“The brothers, both bthe apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, cgreetings. 24 Since we have heard that asome persons have gone out from us and btroubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come ato one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our bbeloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 amen who have brisked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent aJudas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good ato the Holy Spirit and bto us cto lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 athat you abstain from bwhat has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves aprophets, encouraged and bstrengthened cthe brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off ain peace by bthe brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But aPaul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit athe brothers bin every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them aJohn called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one awho had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose aa sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. bBarnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, ahaving been commended by bthe brothers to cthe grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, astrengthening the churches.