11Somemencamedown from Judea and began teaching2the brethren, "Unless* you are 3circumcised according to 4the custom of Moses, you cannot* be saved."
2
And when Paul and Barnabashadgreat*dissension and 5debate with them, 6the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and someothers of them should go up to Jerusalem to the 7apostles and eldersconcerningthisissue.
3
Therefore, being 8sent on their way by the church, they were passingthroughboth9Phoenicia and Samaria, 10describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringinggreatjoy to all11the brethren.
4
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and 12the apostles and the elders, and they 13reportedall that God had done with them.
5
But some of 14the sect of the 15Pharisees who had believedstood up, saying, "It is necessary to 16circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
6
17The apostles and the elderscametogether to look into thismatter.
7
After there had beenmuch18debate, Peterstood up and said to them, "Brethren*, you know that in the earlydays19Godmade a choiceamong you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 20the gospel and believe.
8
"And God, 21whoknows the heart, testified to them 22giving them the HolySpirit, just as He also did to us;
9
and 23He madenodistinctionbetween us and them, 24cleansing their hearts by faith.
10
"Nowthereforewhy do you 25putGod to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yokewhich26neither our fathersnor we have beenable to bear?
11
"But we believe that we are savedthrough27the grace of the LordJesus, in the sameway as they also are."
12
All the peoplekeptsilent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were 28relatingwhat29signs and wondersGod had donethrough them among the Gentiles.
James's Judgment
13After they had stoppedspeaking, 30Jamesanswered, saying, "Brethren*, listen to me.
14
"31Simeon has relatedhowGodfirstconcerned Himself abouttaking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.
15
"With this the words of 32the Prophetsagree, just as it is written,
16
'33AFTERTHESETHINGS34I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT,
17
35SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES36WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,'
18
37SAYS THE LORD, WHO 38MAKESTHESETHINGSKNOWN FROM LONGAGO.
19
"Therefore it is 39my judgment that we do not troublethose who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,
20
but that we write to them that they abstain from 40thingscontaminated by idols and from 41fornication and from 42what is strangled and from blood.
21
"For 43Moses from ancientgenerationshas in everycitythose who preach him, since he is read in the synagogueseverySabbath."
22
Then it seemedgood to 44the apostles and the elders, with the wholechurch, to choosemen from among them to send to 45Antioch with Paul and Barnabas-JudascalledBarsabbas, and 46Silas, leadingmenamong47the brethren,
23
and they sent this letter by them, "48The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to 49the brethren in 50Antioch and 51Syria and 52Ciliciawho are from the Gentiles, 53greetings.
24
"Since we have heard that 54some of our number to whom we gavenoinstruction have 55disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,
25
56 it seemedgood to us, having become of onemind, to selectmen to send to you with our belovedBarnabas and Paul,
26
men who have 57risked their lives for the name of our LordJesusChrist.
27
"Therefore we have sent58Judas and 59Silas, who themselves will alsoreport the samethings by word of mouth.
28
"For 60it seemedgood to 61the HolySpirit and to 62us to lay upon you nogreaterburdenthantheseessentials:
29
that you abstain from 63thingssacrificed to idols and from 64blood and from 65thingsstrangled and from 66fornication; if you keepyourselvesfree from suchthings, you will dowell. Farewell."
30
So when they were sentaway, 67they wentdown to Antioch; and having gathered the congregationtogether, they delivered the letter.
31
When they had read it, they rejoicedbecause of its encouragement.
32
68Judas and 69Silas, alsobeing70prophetsthemselves, encouraged and strengthened71the brethren with a lengthymessage.
33
After they had spenttime there, they were sentaway from the brethren72in peace to those who had 73sent them out.