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Acts 14; Acts 15

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Acts 14

1 The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas entered the Jewish synagogue and spoke as they had before. As a result, a huge number of Jews and Greeks believed.
2 However, the Jews who rejected the faith stirred up the Gentiles, poisoning their minds against the brothers.
3 Nevertheless, Paul and Barnabas stayed there for quite some time, confidently speaking about the Lord. And the Lord confirmed the word about his grace by the signs and wonders he enabled them to perform.
4 The people of the city were divided—some siding with the Jews, others with the Lord's messengers.
5 Then some Gentiles and Jews, including their leaders, hatched a plot to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas.
6 When they learned of it, these two messengers fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area,
7 where they continued to proclaim the good news.
8 In Lystra there was a certain man who lacked strength in his legs. He had been crippled since birth and had never walked. Sitting there, he
9 heard Paul speaking. Paul stared at him and saw that he believed he could be healed.
10 Raising his voice, Paul said, "Stand up straight on your feet!" He jumped up and began to walk.
11 Seeing what Paul had done, the crowd shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have taken human form and come down to visit us!"
12 They referred to Barnabas as Zeus and to Paul as Hermes, since Paul was the main speaker.
13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was located just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates. Along with the crowds, he wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 When the Lord's messengers Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes in protest and rushed out into the crowd. They shouted,
15 "People, what are you doing? We are humans too, just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you: turn to the living God and away from such worthless things. He made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.
16 In the past, he permitted every nation to go its own way.
17 Nevertheless, he hasn't left himself without a witness. He has blessed you by giving you rain from above as well as seasonal harvests, and satisfying you with food and happiness."
18 Even with these words, they barely kept the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won the crowds over. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.
20 When the disciples surrounded him, he got up and entered the city again. The following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
21 Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the good news to the people in Derbe and made many disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where
22 they strengthened the disciples and urged them to remain firm in the faith. They told them, "If we are to enter God's kingdom, we must pass through many troubles."
23 They appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting, they committed these elders to the Lord, in whom they had placed their trust.
24 After Paul and Barnabas traveled through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 They proclaimed the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been entrusted by God's grace to the work they had now completed.
27 On their arrival, they gathered the church together and reported everything that God had accomplished through their activity, and how God had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.
28 They stayed with the disciples a long time.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible

Acts 15

1 Some people came down from Judea teaching the family of believers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom we've received from Moses, you can't be saved."
2 Paul and Barnabas took sides against these Judeans and argued strongly against their position. The church at Antioch appointed Paul, Barnabas, and several others from Antioch to go up to Jerusalem to set this question before the apostles and the elders.
3 The church sent this delegation on their way. They traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling stories about the conversion of the Gentiles to everyone. Their reports thrilled the brothers and sisters.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church, the apostles, and the elders all welcomed them. They gave a full report of what God had accomplished through their activity.
5 Some believers from among the Pharisees stood up and claimed, "The Gentiles must be circumcised. They must be required to keep the Law from Moses."
6 The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter.
7 After much debate, Peter stood and addressed them, "Fellow believers, you know that, early on, God chose me from among you as the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and come to believe.
8 God, who knows people's deepest thoughts and desires, confirmed this by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, but purified their deepest thoughts and desires through faith.
10 Why then are you now challenging God by placing a burden on the shoulders of these disciples that neither we nor our ancestors could bear?
11 On the contrary, we believe that we and they are saved in the same way, by the grace of the Lord Jesus."
12 The entire assembly fell quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God did among the Gentiles through their activity.
13 When Barnabas and Paul also fell silent, James responded, “Fellow believers, listen to me.
14 Simon reported how, in his kindness, God came to the Gentiles in the first place, to raise up from them a people of God.
15 The prophets' words agree with this; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and I will rebuild David's fallen tent; I will rebuild what has been torn down. I will restore it
17 so that the rest of humanity will seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who belong to me. The Lord says this, the one who does these things
18 known from earliest times.
19 "Therefore, I conclude that we shouldn't create problems for Gentiles who turn to God.
20 Instead, we should write a letter, telling them to avoid the pollution associated with idols, sexual immorality, eating meat from strangled animals, and consuming blood.
21 After all, Moses has been proclaimed in every city for a long time, and is read aloud every Sabbath in every synagogue."
22 The apostles and the elders, along with the entire church, agreed to send some delegates chosen from among themselves to Antioch, together with Paul and Barnabas. They selected Judas Barsabbas and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers and sisters.
23 They were to carry this letter: The apostles and the elders, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
24 We've heard that some of our number have disturbed you with unsettling words we didn't authorize.
25 We reached a united decision to select some delegates and send them to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul.
26 These people have devoted their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore, we are sending Judas and Silas. They will confirm what we have written.
28 The Holy Spirit has led us to the decision that no burden should be placed on you other than these essentials:
29 refuse food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid such things. Farewell.
30 When Barnabas, Paul, and the delegates were sent on their way, they went down to Antioch. They gathered the believers and delivered the letter.
31 The people read it, delighted with its encouraging message.
32 Judas and Silas were prophets, and they said many things that encouraged and strengthened the brothers and sisters.
33 Judas and Silas stayed there awhile, then were sent back with a blessing of peace from the brothers and sisters to those who first sent them.
35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, where, together with many others, they taught and proclaimed the good news of the Lord's word.
36 Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit all the brothers and sisters in every city where we preached the Lord's word. Let's see how they are doing."
37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.
38 Paul insisted that they shouldn't take him along, since he had deserted them in Pamphylia and hadn't continued with them in their work.
39 Their argument became so intense that they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
40 Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the Lord's grace.
41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible