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Acts 14; Acts 15
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Acts 14
1
The same thing happened in the city of Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went into the synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large crowd of Jews and Greeks believed.
2
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up some people who were not Jewish and poisoned their minds against the believers.
3
Paul and Barnabas stayed in the city of Iconium for a long time. They spoke boldly about the Lord, who confirmed their message about his good will by having them perform miracles and do amazing things.
4
But the people of Iconium were divided. Some were for the Jews, while others were for the apostles.
5
In the meantime, Paul and Barnabas found out that the non-Jewish people and the Jewish people with their rulers planned to attack them and stone them to death.
6
So they escaped to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding territory.
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They spread the Good News there.
8
A man who was born lame was in Lystra. He was always sitting because he had never been able to walk.
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He listened to what Paul was saying. Paul observed him closely and saw that the man believed he could be made well.
10
So Paul said in a loud voice, "Stand up." The man jumped up and began to walk.
11
The crowds who saw what Paul had done shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come to us, and they look human."
12
They addressed Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes because Paul did most of the talking.
13
Zeus' temple was at the entrance to the city. The priest of the god Zeus brought bulls with flowery wreaths around their necks to the temple gates. The priest and the crowd wanted to offer a sacrifice [to Paul and Barnabas].
14
When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening, they were very upset. They rushed into the crowd
15
and said, "Men, what are you doing? We're human beings like you. We're spreading the Good News to you to turn you away from these worthless gods to the living God. The living God made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.
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In the past God allowed all people to live as they pleased.
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Yet, by doing good, he has given evidence of his existence. He gives you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. He fills you with food and your lives with happiness."
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Although Paul and Barnabas said these things, they hardly kept the crowd from sacrificing to them.
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However, Jews from the cities of Antioch and Iconium arrived in Lystra and won the people over. They tried to stone Paul to death and dragged him out of the city when they thought that he was dead.
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But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day Paul and Barnabas left for the city of Derbe.
21
They spread the Good News in that city and won many disciples. Then they went back to the cities of Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (which is in Pisidia).
22
They strengthened the disciples in these cities and encouraged the disciples to remain faithful. Paul and Barnabas told them, "We must suffer a lot to enter the kingdom of God."
23
They had the disciples in each church choose spiritual leaders, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted the leaders to the Lord in whom they believed.
24
After they had gone through Pisidia, they went to Pamphylia.
25
They spoke the message in the city of Perga and went to the city of Attalia.
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From Attalia they took a boat and headed home to the city of Antioch [in Syria]. (In Antioch they had been entrusted to God's care for the work they had now finished.)
27
When they arrived, they called the members of the church together. They reported everything God had done through them, especially that he had given people who were not Jewish the opportunity to believe.
28
They stayed for a long time with these disciples.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Acts 15
1
Some men came from Judea and started to teach believers that people can't be saved unless they are circumcised as Moses' Teachings require.
2
Paul and Barnabas had a fierce dispute with these men. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were sent to Jerusalem to see the apostles and spiritual leaders about this claim.
3
The church sent Paul and Barnabas [to Jerusalem]. As they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of how non-Jewish people were turning to God. This story brought great joy to all the believers.
4
The church in Jerusalem, the apostles, and the spiritual leaders welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they arrived. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had done through them.
5
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "People who are not Jewish must be circumcised and ordered to follow Moses' Teachings."
6
The apostles and spiritual leaders met to consider this statement.
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After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren't Jewish could hear the Good News and believe.
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God, who knows everyone's thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren't Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us.
9
God doesn't discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews.
10
So why are you testing God? You're putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry.
11
We certainly believe that the Lord Jesus saves us the same way that he saves them--through his kindness."
12
The whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the miracles and amazing things that God had done through them among non-Jewish people.
13
After they finished speaking, James responded, "Brothers, listen to me.
14
Simon has explained how God first showed his concern by taking from non-Jewish people those who would honor his name.
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This agrees with what the prophets said. Scripture says,
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'Afterwards, I will return. I will set up David's fallen tent again. I will restore its ruined places again. I will set it up again
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so that the survivors and all the people who aren't Jewish over whom my name is spoken, may search for the Lord, declares the Lord.
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He is the one who will do these things that have always been known!'
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"So I've decided that we shouldn't trouble non-Jewish people who are turning to God.
20
Instead, we should write a letter telling them to keep away from things polluted by false gods, from sexual sins, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from eating bloody meat.
21
After all, Moses' words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of worship."
22
Then the apostles, the spiritual leaders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to the city of Antioch. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, who were leaders among the believers.
23
They wrote this letter for them to deliver: From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers. To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Dear brothers and sisters,
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We have heard that some individuals who came from us have confused you with statements that disturb you. We did not authorize these men [to speak].
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So we have come to a unanimous decision that we should choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul.
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Barnabas and Paul have dedicated their lives to our Lord, the one named Jesus Christ.
27
We have sent Judas and Silas to report to you on our decision.
28
The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to place any additional burdens on you. Do only what is necessary
29
by keeping away from food sacrificed to false gods, from eating bloody meat, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sins. If you avoid these things, you will be doing what's right. Farewell!
30
So the men were sent on their way and arrived in the city of Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter.
31
When the people read the letter, they were pleased with the encouragement it brought them.
32
Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, spoke a long time to encourage and strengthen the believers.
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After Judas and Silas had stayed in Antioch for some time, the congregation sent them back to Jerusalem with friendly greetings to those who had sent them.
35
Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught people about the Lord's word and spread the Good News.
36
After a while Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back to every city where we spread the Lord's word. We'll visit the believers to see how they're doing."
37
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along.
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However, Paul didn't think it was right to take a person like him along. John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to work.
39
Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus.
40
Paul chose Silas and left after the believers entrusted him to the Lord's care.
41
Paul went through the provinces of Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.