Self-interpreting Bible

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Acts 15

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 acertain men which came down from Judaea taught the bbrethren, and said, cExcept ye be circumcised after the *manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 dWhen 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 ethe apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being fbrought on their way by the church, they passed through gPhenice and Samaria, hdeclaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused igreat joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were jreceived of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they kdeclared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there 1rose 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 ¶lAnd 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, mMen 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, nwhich knoweth the hearts, obare them witness, giving them the Holy *Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And pput no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts qby faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, rto put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe sthat 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, tdeclaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 ¶And uafter they had held their peace, vJames answered, saying, wMen and brethren, hearken unto me:

14 xSimeon hath declared how God at the first ydid 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 zAfter 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 aThat 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 bKnown unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

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

    20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from epollutions of idols, and from ffornication, and from gthings strangled, and from blood.

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

    22 Then pleased it the apostles and ielders, with the jwhole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and kSilas, chief men among lthe brethren:

    23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and melders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and nSyria and Cilicia:

    24 *Forasmuch as we have heard, that ocertain 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 pwith one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved qBarnabas and Paul,

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

    27 We have sent therefore Judas and sSilas, who shall also tell you the same things by 2mouth.

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

    29 vThat ye abstain from *meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye wkeep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

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

    31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the 3consolation.

    • 3: Or, exhortation.

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

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

    34 Notwithstanding it pleased bSilas to abide there still.

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

    36 ¶And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, dLet 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 eJohn, whose surname was Mark.

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

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

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

    41 And he went lthrough Syria and Cilicia, mconfirming the churches.