Acts:15

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* And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren , "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses , you cannot be saved ." * Therefore , when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them , they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem , to the apostles and elders , about this question . * So , being sent on their way by the church , they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria , describing the conversion of the Gentiles ; and they caused great joy to all the brethren . * And when they had come to Jerusalem , they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders ; and they reported all things that God had done with them . * But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up , saying , "It is necessary to circumcise them , and to command them to keep the law of Moses ." * Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter . * And when there had been much dispute , Peter rose up and said to them : "Men and brethren , you know that a good while ago God chose among us , that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe . * So God , who knows the heart , acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit , just as He did to us , * and made no distinction between us and them , purifying their hearts by faith . * Now therefore , why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear ? * But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they ." * Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles . * And after they had become silent , James answered , saying , "Men and brethren , listen to me : * Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name . * And with this the words of the prophets agree , just as it is written : * 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David , which has fallen down ; I will rebuild its ruins , And I will set it up ; * So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD . Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name , Says the LORD who does all these things .' * "Known to God from eternity are all His works . * Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God , * but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols , from sexual immorality , from things strangled , and from blood . * For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city , being read in the synagogues every Sabbath ." * Then it pleased the apostles and elders , with the whole church , to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas , namely , Judas who was also named Barsabas , and Silas , leading men among the brethren . * They wrote this , letter by them : The apostles , the elders , and the brethren , To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch , Syria , and Cilicia : Greetings . * Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words , unsettling your souls , saying , "You must be circumcised and keep the law " --to whom we gave no such commandment -- * it seemed good to us , being assembled with one accord , to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul , * men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . * We have therefore sent Judas and Silas , who will also report the same things by word of mouth . * For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit , and to us , to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things : * that you abstain from things offered to idols , from blood , from things strangled , and from sexual immorality . If you keep yourselves from these , you will do well . Farewell . * So when they were sent off , they came to Antioch ; and when they had gathered the multitude together , they delivered the letter . * When they had read it , they rejoiced over its encouragement . * Now Judas and Silas , themselves being prophets also , exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words . * And after they had stayed there for a time , they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles . * However , it seemed good to Silas to remain there . * Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch , teaching and preaching the word of the Lord , with many others also . * Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas , "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord , and see how they are doing ." * Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark . * But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia , and had not gone with them to the work . * Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another . And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus ; * but Paul chose Silas and departed , being commended by the brethren to the grace of God . * And he went through Syria and Cilicia , strengthening the churches .

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