1Some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers and sisters. They said, "Unless you are circumcised in the way Moses taught, you cannot be saved."
2So Paul and Barnabas argued with them strongly and disagreed with them. Then it was decided that Paul and Barnabas, and some others with them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3The church sent them on their way. They travelled through Phenice and Samaria, telling how the Gentiles had turned to God. This brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, and by the apostles and elders. They told everything that God had done with them.
5But some believers who belonged to the group of the Pharisees stood up. They said, "These men must be circumcised. They must be ordered to keep the law of Moses."
6The apostles and elders met together to think about this matter.
7There was much arguing. Then Peter stood up and said to them, "Men and brothers, you know that a long while ago God chose me from among you, so that the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel from my mouth, and believe."
8"And God, who knows the hearts of people, showed that he accepted them. He gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us."
9"He made no difference between us and them, but made their hearts clean by faith."
10"So why do you test God now? Why do you put a yoke on the necks of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we were able to carry?"
11"No, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as they are."
12Then the whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul, who told about the miracles and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13When they had finished speaking, James answered, "Men and brothers, listen to me."
14"Simeon has told how God at the first came to the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people for his name."
15"The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,"
16"'After this I will return, and I will build again the tent of David, which has fallen down. I will build up its ruins again, and I will set it up:"
17"'so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles, who are called by my name,' says the Lord, who does all these things."
18"All his works have been known to God from the beginning of the world."
19"So this is my judgement: we should not trouble those among the Gentiles who are turning to God."
20"Instead, let us write to them, telling them to keep away from things made unclean by idols, from sexual sin, from the meat of animals that have been strangled, and from blood."
21"For from long ago Moses has had men in every city who preach him, and he is read in the synagogues every sabbath day."
22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose men from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas, who was also called Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.
23They wrote letters for them to carry, which said this: "The apostles and elders and brothers send greetings to the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia."
24"We have heard that some men went out from us and troubled you with their words. They upset your minds, saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law. We gave them no such command."
25"So we all agreed together that it seemed good to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul,"
26"men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
28"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no heavier burden on you than these necessary things:"
29"that you keep away from food offered to idols, from blood, from the meat of animals that have been strangled, and from sexual sin. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell."
30So they were sent off and came to Antioch. They gathered the people together and handed over the letter.
31When they had read it, they were glad because of its comfort.
32Judas and Silas were prophets themselves. They encouraged the brothers and sisters with many words and made them stronger.
33After they had stayed there for a time, the brothers sent them away in peace to the apostles.
34But Silas was pleased to stay there still.
35Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, along with many others.
36Some days later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit our brothers and sisters in every city where we preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are."
38But Paul did not think it good to take him with them, because he had left them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.
39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
40Paul chose Silas and left, after the brothers and sisters had handed him over to the grace of God.
41He travelled through Syria and Cilicia, making the churches stronger.