The Dispute over Circumcision

1Now some that came down from Judea, taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised according to the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question. 3They therefore, being brought forward on their way by the church, passed through Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren. 4And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they told them all that God had done by them.

The Council at Jerusalem
(Galatians 2:1–10)

5But there rose up, said they, some of the sect of the pharisees that believed, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.

6So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter. 7And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us: 9and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they.

12And all the multitude kept silence, and gave attention to Barnabas and Paul, relating what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me. 14#NAME? 15And to this agree the words of the prophets,

16as it is written, "After this will I return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will repair its ruins, and set it up again.

17That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things."

18Now all his works are known unto God from the beginning of the world: 19wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them, 20that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses hath had from ancient times those that preach him in every city, and is still read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

22Then it seemed good to the apostles, and elders, and the whole church, to send men chose from among themselves to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas sirnamed Barsabas, and Silas; leading men among the brethren: 23and they wrote by their hand, as follows, The apostles and elders and brethren here to the Gentile brethren which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting. 24Forasmuch as we have heard, that some who went out from us, have troubled you by their discourses, unsettling your minds, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commission; 25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved brethren Barnabas and Paul, 26who have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have therefore sent with them Judas and Silas, to tell you the same things also by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things. 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel.

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

30Being thus dispatched they came to Antioch, and when they had assembled the brethren, they delivered the epistle. 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced at the consolation it brought. 32And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, exhorted and established: the brethren by many discourses. 33And after some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to the apostles. 34But it seemed good to Silas to continue there: Paul also and Barnabas stayed at Antioch, 35teaching and preaching, with many others likewise, the word of the Lord.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)

36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit our brethren in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are. 37And Barnabas proposed to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark. 38But Paul did not think proper to take him with them, who left them in Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And there was a sharp dispute, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus: but Paul chose Silas and departed,

40being recommended to the grace of God. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches.