Acts 15
1 Then came downe certaine from Iudea, and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the maner of Moses, ye cannot be saued.
Now certain men came down from Judaea, teaching the brothers and saying that without circumcision, after the rule of Moses, there is no salvation.
2 And when there was great dissension, and disputation by Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordeyned that Paul and Barnabas, and certaine other of them, should goe vp to Hierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders about this question.
And after Paul and Barnabas had had no little argument and discussion with them, the brothers made a decision to send Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them to the Apostles and the rulers of the church at Jerusalem about this question.
3 Thus being brought forth by ye Church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conuersion of the Gentiles, and they brought great ioy vnto all the brethren.
So they, being sent on their way by the church, went through Phoenicia and Samaria, giving news of the salvation of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the brothers.
4 And when they were come to Hierusalem, they were receiued of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders, and they declared what things God had done by them.
And when they came to Jerusalem, they had a meeting with the church and the Apostles and the rulers, and they gave an account of all the things which God had done through them.
5 But said they, certaine of the sect of the Pharises, which did beleeue, rose vp, saying, that it was needefull to circumcise them, and to commaund them to keepe the lawe of Moses.
But some of the Pharisees, who were of the faith, got up and said, It is necessary for these to have circumcision and to keep the law of Moses.
6 Then the Apostles and Elders came together to looke to this matter.
And the Apostles and the rulers of the church came together and gave thought to the question.
7 And when there had bene great disputation, Peter rose vp, and said vnto them, Ye men and brethren, ye know that a good while ago, among vs God chose out me, that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the worde of the Gospel, and beleeue.
And when there had been much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, My brothers, you have knowledge that some time back it was God's pleasure that by my mouth the good news might be given to the Gentiles so that they might have faith.
8 And God which knoweth the heartes, bare them witnesse, in giuing vnto them ye holy Ghost euen as he did vnto vs.
And God, the searcher of hearts, was a witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit even as he did to us;
9 And he put no difference betweene vs and them, after that by faith he had purified their heartes.
Making no division between them and us, but making clean their hearts by faith.
10 Nowe therefore, why tempt ye God, to lay a yoke on the disciples neckes, which neither our fathers, nor we were able to beare?
Why then are you testing God, by putting on the neck of the disciples a yoke so hard that not even our fathers or we were strong enough for it?
11 But we beleeue, through the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ to be saued, euen as they doe.
But we have faith that we will get salvation through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and heard Barnabas and Paul, which told what signes and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.
And all the people were quiet while Barnabas and Paul gave an account of the signs and wonders which God had done among the Gentiles by them.
13 And when they helde their peace, Iames answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken vnto me.
And when they had come to an end, James, answering, said, My brothers, give ear to me:
14 Simeon hath declared, howe God first did visite the Gentiles, to take of them a people vnto his Name.
Symeon has given an account of how God was first pleased to take from among the Gentiles a people for himself.
15 And to this agree the woordes of the Prophets, as it is written,
And this is in agreement with the words of the prophets, as it is said,
16 After this I will returne, and will builde againe the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe, and the ruines thereof will I build againe, and I will set it vp,
After these things I will come back, and will put up the tent of David which has been broken down, building up again its broken parts and making it complete:
17 That the residue of men might seeke after the Lord, and all the Gentiles vpon whom my Name is called, saith the Lord which doeth all these things.
So that the rest of men may make search for the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is named,
Says the Lord, who has made these things clear from the earliest times. (aiōn g165)
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them of the Gentiles that are turned to God,
For this reason my decision is, that we do not put trouble in the way of those who from among the Gentiles are turned to God;
20 But that we send vnto them, that they abstaine themselues from filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from blood.
But that we give them orders to keep themselves from things offered to false gods, and from the evil desires of the body, and from the flesh of animals put to death in ways against the law, and from blood.
21 For Moses of olde time hath in euery citie them that preache him, seeing he is read in the Synagogues euery Sabbath day.
For Moses, from times long past, has his preachers in every town, reading his law in the Synagogues every Sabbath.
22 Then it seemed good to the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church, to sende chosen men of their owne companie to Antiochia with Paul and Barnabas: to wit, Iudas whose surname was Barsabas and Silas, which were chiefe men among the brethren,
Then it seemed good to the Apostles and the rulers and all the church, to send men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas, named Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers:
23 And wrote letters by them after this maner, THE APOSTLES, and the Elders, and the brethren, vnto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antiochia, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, send greeting.
And they sent a letter by them, saying, The Apostles and the older brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, may joy be with you:
24 Forasmuch as we haue heard, that certaine which went out from vs, haue troubled you with wordes, and cumbred your mindes, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keepe the Lawe: to whom we gaue no such commandement,
Because we have knowledge that some who went from us have been troubling you with their words, putting your souls in doubt; to whom we gave no such order;
25 It seemed therefore good to vs, when we were come together with one accord, to send chosen men vnto you, with our beloued Barnabas and Paul,
It seemed good to us, having come to an agreement together, to send these men to you, with our well loved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that haue giuen vp their liues for the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ.
Men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We haue therefore sent Iudas and Silas, which shall also tell you ye same things by mouth.
And so we have sent Judas and Silas, who will say the same things to you themselves, by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to vs, to lay no more burden vpon you, then these necessary things,
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to put on you nothing more than these necessary things;
29 That is, that ye abstaine from things offered to idoles, and blood, and that that is strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keepe your selues, ye shall doe well. Fare ye well.
To keep from things offered to false gods, and from blood, and from things put to death in ways which are against the law, and from the evil desires of the body; if you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. May you be happy.
30 Nowe when they were departed, they came to Antiochia, and after that they had assembled the multitude, they deliuered the Epistle.
So they, being sent away, came down to Antioch, and having got the people together, they gave them the letter.
31 And when they had read it, they reioyced for the consolation.
And after reading it, they were glad of its comfort.
32 And Iudas and Silas being Prophets, exhorted the brethren with many wordes, and strengthened them.
And Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, gave teaching to the brothers and made them strong in the faith.
33 And after they had taried there a space, they were let goe in peace of the brethren vnto the Apostles.
And when they had been there for some time, they were sent back in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
34 Notwithstanding Silas thought good to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antiochia, teaching and preaching with many other, the worde of the Lord.
But Paul and Barnabas kept on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of God, with a number of others.
36 But after certaine dayes, Paul said vnto Barnabas, Let vs returne, and visite our brethren in euery citie, where we haue preached the worde of the Lord, and see how they doe.
And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go back and see the brothers in every town where we have given the word of God, and see how they are.
37 And Barnabas counselled to take with them Iohn, called Marke.
And Barnabas had a desire to take with them John, named Mark.
38 But Paul thought it not meete to take him vnto their companie, which departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the worke.
But Paul was of the opinion that it was not right to take with them one who had gone away from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with the work.
39 Then were they so stirred, that they departed asunder one from the other, so that Barnabas tooke Marke, and sailed vnto Cyprus.
And there was a sharp argument between them, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and went by ship to Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended of the brethren vnto the grace of God.
But Paul took Silas and went away with the blessing of the brothers.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, stablishing the Churches.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, making the churches stronger in the faith.
