Acts 15:1-29

Acts 15:1-29

[1] And  certain men  which came down  from  Judaea  taught  the brethren,  and said,  ye be circumcised  after the manner  of Moses,  ye cannot  be saved.  [2] Paul  and  Barnabas  had  no  small  dissension  and  with  them,  they determined  that Paul  and  Barnabas,  and  certain  other  of  them,  should go up  to  Jerusalem  unto  the apostles  and  elders  about  question.  [3] And  being brought on their way  by  the church,  they passed through  Phenice  and  Samaria,  declaring  the conversion  of the Gentiles:  and  they caused  great  joy  unto all  the brethren.  [4] And  when they were come  to  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 law  of Moses.  [6] the apostles  and  elders  came together  of  matter.  [7] And  when there had been  much  Peter  rose up,  and said  unto  them,  Men  and brethren,  know  how that  a good  while  ago  God  made choice  among  that the Gentiles  by  mouth  should hear  the word  of the gospel,  and  believe.  [8] And  God,  which knoweth the hearts,  bare them  witness,  giving  them  the Holy  Ghost,  even  as  [9] And  no  difference  between  and  them,  purifying  their  hearts  by faith.  [10] Now  therefore  why  tempt ye  God,  to put  a yoke  upon  the neck  of the disciples,  which  neither  fathers  nor  were able  to bear?  [11] But  we believe  that through  the grace  of the Lord  Jesus  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  their  peace,  James  answered,  saying,  Men  and brethren,  hearken  [14] Simeon  hath declared  how  God  at the first  did visit  the Gentiles,  to take  out of  them a people  his  name.  [15] And  agree  the words  of the prophets;  as  it is written,  [16] After  I will return,  and  will build again  the tabernacle  of David,  which  is fallen down;  and  I will build again  the ruins  thereof,  and  it  up:  [17] That  the residue  of men  might seek after  the Lord,  and  all  the Gentiles,  upon  whom  name  is called,  saith  the Lord,  who  doeth  all  [18] Known  unto God  all  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,  pollutions  of idols,  and  from fornication,  and  from things strangled,  and  from blood.  [21] For  Moses  of  old  time  hath  in every  city  them that preach  him,  being read  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  Barsabas,  and  Silas,  chief  men  among  the brethren:  [23] And they wrote  letters by  them  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  have troubled  with words,  subverting  souls,  saying,  Ye must be circumcised,  and  keep  the law:  to whom  no  such commandment:  [25] It seemed good  being assembled  with one accord,  to send  chosen  men  unto  with  beloved  Barnabas  and  Paul,  [26] Men  that have hazarded  their  lives  for  the name  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  [27] We have sent  therefore  Judas  and  Silas,  who  also  tell  you the same things  by  mouth.  [28] For  it seemed good  to the Holy  Ghost,  and  to lay upon  no  greater  burden  than  necessary things;  [29] from meats offered to idols,  and  from blood,  and  from things strangled,  and  from fornication:  from  which  if ye keep  yourselves,  ye shall do  well.  Fare ye well.