CHAPTER 15
1 And some men came down from Judea, and taught brethren, That but ye be circumcised after the law of Moses, ye may not be made safe [or may not be saved].
2 Therefore when there was made not a little dissension to Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordained, that Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, should go up to the apostles and priests in Jerusalem, on this question.
3 And so they were led forth of the church, and passed by Phoenicia and Samaria; and they told the conver-sation [or the living] of heathen men, and they made great joy to all the brethren.
4 And when they came to Jeru-salem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles, and of the elder men, and told, how great [or how many] things God did with them.
5 But some of the heresy of the Pharisees, that believed, rose up, and said, That it behooveth them to be circumcised, and to command to keep also the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elder men came together, to see of this word.
7 And when there was made a great seeking thereof, Peter rose, and said to them, Brethren, ye know, that of old days in you, God chose by my mouth heathen men, to hear the word of the gospel, and to believe;
8 and God, that knew the hearts, bare witnessing, and gave to them the Holy Ghost, as also to us;
9 and nothing diversed betwixt us and them, cleansing the hearts of them by faith.
10 Now then what tempt ye God, to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither we, neither our fathers might bear?
11 But by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we believe to be saved, as also they.
12 And all the multitude held peace, and heard Barnabas and Paul, telling how great [or how many] signs and wonders God did by them in heathen men.
13 And after that they held peace, James answered, and said, Brethren, hear ye me.
14 Simon told, how God visited, first to take of heathen men, a people to his name. [Simon told, how first God visited, to take of heathen men a people to his name.]
15 And the words of prophets accord to him, as it is written,
16 After this I shall turn again, and build the tabernacle of David, that fell down; and I shall build again the cast-down things of it, and I shall raise it;
17 that other men seek the Lord, and all folks, on whom my name is called to help [or in-called]; the Lord doing this thing, saith.
18 From the world, the work of the Lord is known to the Lord.
19 For which thing I deem them that of heathen men be converted to God, to be not dis-eased [or unquieted],
20 but to write to them, that they abstain them from defoulings of mau-mets [or of simulacra], and from forni-cation, and strangled things, and blood.
21 For Moses of old times hath in all cities them that preach him in syna-gogues, whereby each sabbath he is read.
22 Then it pleased to the apostles, and to the elder men, with all the church, to choose men of them, and send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, Judas, that was named Barsabas, and Silas, the first men among brethren;
23 and wrote by the hands of them, Apostles and elder brethren to them that be at Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brethren of heathen men, greeting.
24 For we heard that some went out from us, and troubled you with words, and turned upside-down your souls, to which men we commanded not,
25 it pleased to us gathered into one, to choose men, and send to you, with our most dearworthy Barnabas and Paul,
26 men that gave their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore we sent Judas and Silas, and they shall tell the same things to you by words.
28 For it is seen to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to put to you nothing more of charge, than these needful things,
29 that ye abstain you from the offered things of maumets [or simu-lacra], and blood strangled, and forni-cation. From which ye keeping you, shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 Therefore they were let go [or dismissed], and came down to Antioch; and when the multitude was gathered, they betook the epistle;
31 which when they had read, they joyed on the comfort.
32 And Judas and Silas and they, for they were prophets, comforted brothers, and confirmed [them] with full many words.
33 But after that they had been there a little while, they were let go of brethren with peace [or they were dismissed with peace of brethren], to them that had sent them.
34 But it was seen to Silas, to dwell there; and Judas went alone to Jeru-salem.
35 And Paul and Barnabas dwelt at Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with others many [or with many others].
36 But after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, Turn we again, and visit we [our] brethren by all cities, in which we have preached the word of the Lord, how they have them.
37 And Barnabas would take with him John, that was named Mark.
38 But Paul prayed him, that he that departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them into the work, should not be received.
39 And dissension was made, so that they departed atwain. And Barnabas took Mark, and came by boat to Cyprus.
40 And Paul chose Silas, and went forth from the brethren, and was betaken to the grace of God.
41 And he went by Syria and Cilicia, and confirmed the church, commanding to keep the behests [or the precepts] of the apostles and elder men.