1And some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2And when no small dissension and debate arose between Paul and Barnabas and them, the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue.
3So, after being sent on their way by the church, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers.
4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
5But some from the party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6The apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you yourselves know that in the early days God chose from among you that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10Now therefore, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.”
12Then the whole assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they recounted all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14Simeon has recounted how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name.
15And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written:
16‘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,
17so that the remnant of humanity may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who is doing these things,’
18known from of old.
19Therefore, it is my judgment that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
20but that we write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
21For Moses, from ancient generations, has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among their own number and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—namely, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, who were leading men among the brothers.
23They sent the following letter by their hand: “The apostles and the elders, brothers, to the brothers from among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24Since we have heard that some from our number have troubled you with their words, unsettling your souls, though we gave them no such instruction,
25it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these essentials:
29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”
30So, when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.
31And when they read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement.
32Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, also encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long message.
33And after they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the good news of the word of the Lord, along with many others.
36And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37Now Barnabas wanted to take John, who was called Mark, along with them as well.
38But Paul insisted that they should not take along the one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
39There was such a sharp disagreement that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,
40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
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