Acts 15:14-41 ▼

14 Simon has related how God began to visit the Gentiles, to chuse from among them a people consecrated to his name.

15 and this is agreeable to the oracles of the prophets: as it is written,

16 "after this I will return and build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down:

17 I will repair its ruins, and raise it up: that the rest of mankind, even all the nations, that profess my name, may seek the Lord.

18 he that does all these things, is the Lord himself that has said it." for the works of God are all known to him from the beginning of the world.

19 wherefore my opinion is not to disquiet the Gentile converts: but only to write to them,

20 that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, from fornication, from animals that are strangled, and from their blood.

21 for as to the law of Moses, that has been published in every city a considerable time, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.

22 Then the apostles, the presbyters, and the whole church thought it proper to select some out of their own body to accompany Paul and Barnabas to Antioch: such as Judas surnam'd Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,

23 whom they charg'd with this letter. The apostles, the presbyters, and the brethren, to the Gentile brethren at Antioch, in Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting.

24 Whereas we have been appriz'd, that some who went from us, have embarass'd you with their discourse, and unsettled your minds, maintaining, that you ought to be circumcised, and to observe the law, though we gave them no such injunction: after having been assembled,

25 we unanimously judg'd it proper to send particular deputies to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 men that have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 we therefore send Judas and Silas to inform you in person of this affair.

28 for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions;

29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the flesh of strangled animals, and from fornication: you will do well to preserve your selves from these practices, farewel.

30 Being thus dispatch'd, they went to Antioch; where having assembled all the faithful, they deliver'd the letter: from the reading of which,

31 they were affected with joy at the comfortable contents, as for Judas and Silas,

32 they being also prophets, they consolated and confirm'd the brethren by several discourses.

33 and after they had stay'd there some time, with the good wishes of the brethren, they had leave to go to the apostles.

34 however Silas thought fit to stay at Antioch,

35 where Paul and Barnabas continued, teaching and preaching the doctrine of the Lord, with many others.

36 Some time after, Paul said to Barnabas, let us return to visit all those cities, where we have preach'd the word of the Lord, to see what condition the brethren are in.

37 upon which Barnabas propos'd to take John surnam'd Mark, with them.

38 but Paul did not think it proper to take one that had quitted them at Pamphylia, refusing to accompany them in their ministry.

39 and the contention was so sharp between them, that they separated: so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

40 but Paul chose Silas, and having been recommended by the brethren to the favour of God,

41 he departed, and passing through Syria and Cilicia, he settled the churches there.