King James Version KJV
Good News Translation GNT
1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
1
Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, "You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires."
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
2
Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
3
They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
4
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
5
But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses."
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
6
The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
7
After a long debate Peter stood up and said, "My friends, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
8
And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us.
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
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He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
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So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
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No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
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The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
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When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: "Listen to me, my friends!
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
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Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
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The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
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"After this I will return, says the Lord, and restore the kingdom of David. I will rebuild its ruins and make it strong again.
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
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And so all the rest of the human race will come to me, all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
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So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.'
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
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"It is my opinion," James went on, "that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
20
Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
21
For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town."
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
22
Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
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and they sent the following letter by them: "We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
24
We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us.
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
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And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
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We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
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The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules:
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
29
eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes."
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
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The messengers were sent off and went to Antioch, where they gathered the whole group of believers and gave them the letter.
31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
31
When the people read it, they were filled with joy by the message of encouragement.
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
32
Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke a long time with them, giving them courage and strength.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
33
After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the believers and went back to those who had sent them.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
35
Paul and Barnabas spent some time in Antioch, and together with many others they taught and preached the word of the Lord.
36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
36
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in every town where we preached the word of the Lord, and let us find out how they are getting along."
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
37
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them,
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
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but Paul did not think it was right to take him, because he had not stayed with them to the end of their mission, but had turned back and left them in Pamphylia.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
39
There was a sharp argument, and they separated: Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus,
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
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while Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the care of the Lord's grace.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
41
He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.