New Living Translation

King James Bible

1While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers : “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

1And 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.

2Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.

2When 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.

3The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.

3And 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.

4When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.

4And 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.

5But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”

5But 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.

6So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.

6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.

7And 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.

8God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.

8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.

9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?

10Now 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?

11We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

12Then 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.

13When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.

13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

14Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.

14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:

15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,

16After 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:

17so that the rest of humanity might seek the LORD, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine. The LORD has spoken—

17That 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.

18he who made these things known so long ago.’

18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.

20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.” The Letter for Gentile Believers

21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders —Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.

22Then 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:

23This is the letter they took with them: “This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!

23And 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:

24“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!

24Forasmuch 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:

25So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.

27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:

28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”

29That 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.

30The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.

30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.

31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.

32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.

33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34	34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there. Paul and Barnabas Separate

35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.”

36And 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.

37Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.

37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.

38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.

39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.

40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.