The Koine Bible

And some who came down from Judea were teaching the brothers that unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

But when there was a dissension and considerable debate, it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this matter.

Those who were sent on ahead by the church traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

But some who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees believed, and they stood up, saying that it is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

The apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.

After much debate had taken place, Peter stood up and said to them, Men brothers, you know that from ancient days God chose through my mouth to hear the message of the gospel and to believe among the Gentiles,

And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit just as to us,

and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Now then, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way as they.

And the whole crowd became silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they explained how God had performed signs and wonders among the Gentiles through them.

After they became silent, James answered, saying, Men brothers, listen to me.

Simeon declared how God first visited to take a people from the nations for his name.

And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written.

After these things I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David, and I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,

so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is called, says the Lord who does these things

Known from the ages.

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,

But to send them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

For Moses, from ancient generations, has those who proclaim him in every city in the synagogues every Sabbath, being read aloud.

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, men who are leaders among the brothers,

Having written by their hand: The apostles and the elders, brothers, to the brothers from the nations in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

Since we have heard that some from among us went out and disturbed you with words, unsettling your souls, which we did not authorize,

It seemed good to us, having become unanimous and having chosen men, to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

To the people who have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also report the same things by word.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay on you any greater burden than these necessary things,

To abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from sexual immorality; from which if you keep yourselves, you will do well. Be strong.

Those who were sent away went down to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude, they delivered the letter.

And when they read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement.

Judas and Silas, who themselves were also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

After they had spent some time, they were sent away in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord with many others.

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are.

But Barnabas wanted to take with him John, who is called Mark, as well.

But Paul wanted to take with them the one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

But a sharp disagreement arose, so that they separated from each other, Barnabas taking Mark with him and sailing away to Cyprus,

But Paul, having chosen Silas, went out, having been entrusted to the grace of the Lord by the brothers,

And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.