Acts 15

Acts Chapter 15 KJV

1Great dissentions arise about circumcising the Gentiles: Paul and Barnabas are sent to consult the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5The matter is debated in a council there; 7Peter declareth his opinion: 12Paul and Barnabas report the miracles they had wrought among the Gentiles. 13James pronounceth sentence in favour of the Gentiles, requiring of them abstinence only in a few particulars. 22Letters are sent with the determination by messengers to the churches, which are received with joy. 36Paul and Barnabas propose to visit together the churches they had planted, but disagree, and travel different ways.
1 And 1certain men which came down from Judaea taught the 2brethren, and said, 3Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 1When 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 2the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being 1brought on their way by the church, they passed through 2Phenice and Samaria, 3declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused 4great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were 1received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they 2declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there arose 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.
6 1And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, 1Men 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.
8 And God, 1which knoweth the hearts, 2bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And 1put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts 2by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, 1to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe 1that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 ¶ Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, 1declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 ¶ And 1after they had held their peace, 2James answered, saying, 3Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 1Simeon hath declared how God at the first 2did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 1After 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:
17 1That 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.
18 1Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, 1that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles 2are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from 1pollutions of idols, and from 2fornication, and from 3things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being 1read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 Then pleased it the apostles and 1elders, with the 2whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and 3Silas, chief men among 4the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and 1elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and 2Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that 1certain 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:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled 1with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved 2Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have 1hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and 1Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by amouth.
28 For it seemed good 1to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater 2burden than these necessary things;
29 1That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye 2keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to 1Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31 which when they had read, they rejoiced for the aconsolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being 1prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and 2confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were 1let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34 Notwithstanding it pleased 1Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas 1continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 ¶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, 1Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them 1John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, 1who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 And 1the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so 2Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto 3Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose 1Silas, and departed, 2being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went 1through Syria and Cilicia, 2confirming the churches.
Acts 15