The Jerusalem Council

1Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2And when Paul and Barnabas had not a little dissension and debate with them, the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brothers. 4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

6Both the apostles and the elders came together to [†]look into this [†]matter. 7And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that [†]in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12And all the multitude kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

James Issues a Judgment

13Now after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,

16‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return,

AND I WILL REBUILD THE FALLEN [†]BOOTH OF DAVID,

AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,

AND I WILL RESTORE IT,

17SO THAT THE REST OF [†]MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,

AND ALL THE GENTILES [†]WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’

18SAYS THE [†]LORD, WHO [†]MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.

19Therefore I judge that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from sexual immorality and from what is strangled and from blood. 21For from ancient generations, Moses has those who preach him in every city, since [†]he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers—to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, 23and they [†]sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. 24Since we have heard that some of us, to whom we gave no instruction, have gone out and disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 25it seemed good to us, having [†]come to one accord, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have [†]risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they themselves will report the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the [†]congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its [†]encouragement. 32And both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, [†]encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a lengthy message. 33And after they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers in peace to those who had sent them. [[†]But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] 35But Paul and Barnabas spent a long time in Antioch, teaching and [†]preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

36Now after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37And Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them [†]in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39And there was such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.