Read the Bible

The Council at Jerusalem

^1 (C1)Some men came down from Judea and began teaching ^(C2)the brothers, "Unless you are ^(C3)circumcised in accordance with ^(C4)the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." ^(VR1)2 Paul and Barnabas disagreed greatly and ^(C1)debated with them, so it was ^(C2)determined that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others from their group would go up to Jerusalem to the ^(C3)apostles and the elders and confer with them concerning this issue.³ So, after being supplied and ^(C1)sent on their way by the church, they went through both ^(C2)Phoenicia and Samaria ^(C3)telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all ^(C4)the ^(F1)believers.⁴ When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church and ^(C1)the apostles and the elders, and they ^(C2)reported to them all the things that God had accomplished through them.⁵ But some from ^(C1)the sect of the ^(C2)Pharisees who had believed in Jesus as the Messiah stood up and said, "It is necessary to ^(C3)circumcise the Gentile converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."

^6 (C1)The apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.⁷ After a long ^(C1)debate, Peter got up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days ^(C2)God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of ^(C3)the gospel and believe.⁸ "And God, ^(C1)who knows and understands the heart, testified to them, ^(C2)giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;⁹ and ^(C1)He made no distinction between us and them, ^(C2)cleansing their hearts by faith in Jesus.¹⁰ "Now then, why are you ^(C1)testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which ^(C2)neither our fathers nor we have been able to endure?¹¹ "But we believe that we are saved through ^(C1)the precious, undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life, in just the same way as they are."

¹² All the people remained silent, and they listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they ^(C1)described all the ^(C2)signs and wonders (attesting miracles) that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

James' Judgment

¹⁶ '^(C1)AFTER THESE THINGS ^(C2)I will return,
AND I WILL REBUILD THE TENT OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN;
I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,
AND I WILL RESTORE IT,

^17 (C1)SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,
AND ALL THE GENTILES UPON ^(C2)WHOM MY NAME HAS BEEN INVOKED,'

^18 (C1)SAYS THE LORD,
WHO HAS BEEN ^(C2)MAKING THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO. ^(VR1)

²² Then ^(C1)the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their men to go to ^(C2)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and ^(C3)Silas also called Silvanus, both, leading men among ^(C4)the brothers.²³ With them they sent the following letter: "^(C1)The apostles and the brothers who are the elders, to ^(C2)the brothers and sisters who are from the Gentiles in ^(C3)Antioch, ^(C4)Syria, and ^(C5)Cilicia, ^(C6)Greetings.²⁴ Since we have heard that ^(C1)some of our men have ^(C2)troubled you with their teachings, causing distress and confusion—men to whom we gave no such orders or instructions—^25 (C1)it has been decided by us, having met together, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,²⁶ men who have ^(C1)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.²⁷ So we have sent ^(C1)Judas and ^(C2)Silas, who will report by word of mouth the same things that we decided in our meeting.²⁸ For ^(C1)it seemed good to ^(C2)the Holy Spirit and to ^(C3)us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials:²⁹ that you abstain from ^(C1)things sacrificed to idols, and from consuming ^(C1)blood, and from eating the meat of things ^(C1)that have been strangled, and ^(C1)from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell."

³⁰ So when they were sent off, ^(C1)they went down to Antioch; and after assembling the congregation, they delivered the letter.³¹ And when they had read it, the people rejoiced greatly at the encouragement and comfort it brought them.^32 (C1)Judas and ^(C2)Silas, who were themselves ^(C3)prophets (divinely inspired spokesmen), encouraged and strengthened ^(C4)the ^(F1)believers with many words.³³ After spending some time there, they were sent back by the brothers ^(C1)with the greeting of peace to those who had ^(C2)sent them.^34 (F1)[However, Silas decided to stay there.]³⁵ But ^(C1)Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and with many others also continued teaching and ^(C2)proclaiming the good news, ^(C3)the word of the Lord concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ.

Paul's Second Missionary Journey

³⁶ After some time Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers and sisters (believers) in ^(C1)every city where we preached ^(C2)the message of the Lord, and see how they are doing."³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take his cousin ^(C1)John, who was called Mark, along with them.³⁸ But Paul kept insisting that they should not take along with them the one who had ^(C1)quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.³⁹ And it became such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took John ^(C1)Mark with him and sailed away to ^(C2)Cyprus.⁴⁰ But Paul chose ^(C1)Silas who was again in Antioch and set out on his second journey, ^(C2)commended by the brothers to the grace and favor of the Lord.⁴¹ And he traveled through ^(C1)Syria and ^(C2)Cilicia, strengthening the churches.