Acts 14-15 (English Standard Version)

Acts 14

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

 ¹Now at Iconium^(A) they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. ^2(B) But the^(C) unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against^(D) the brothers.^{[a] 3}So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for^(E) the Lord, who bore witness to^(F) the word of his grace,^(G) granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ⁴But the people of the city^(H) were divided;^(I) some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. ⁵When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers,^(J) to mistreat them and^(K) to stone them, ⁶they learned of it and^(L) fled to^(M) Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, ⁷and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

 ⁸Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was^(N) crippled from birth and had never walked. ⁹He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and^(O) seeing that he had faith to be made well,^{[b] 10}said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he^(P) sprang up and began walking. ¹¹And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian,^(Q) "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" ¹²Barnabas they called^(R) Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³And the priest of^(S) Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and^(T) wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. ¹⁴But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they^(U) tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵"Men,^(V) why are you doing these things? We also are men,^(W) of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that^(X) you should turn from these^(Y) vain things to^(Z) a living God,^(AA) who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. ¹⁶In past generations he^(AB) allowed all the nations^(AC) to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷Yet^(AD) he did not leave himself without witness, for he^(AE) did good by^(AF) giving you rains from heaven and^(AG) fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with^(AH) food and^(AI) gladness." ¹⁸Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

 ^19(AJ) But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds,^(AK) they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. ²¹When they had preached the gospel to that city and had^(AL) made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ^22(AM) strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them^(AN) to continue in^(AO) the faith, and saying that^(AP) through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ²³And when they had^(AQ) appointed^(AR) elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting^(AS) they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

 ²⁴Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, ²⁶and from there they sailed to Antioch,^(AT) where they had been^(AU) commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. ²⁷And when they arrived and gathered the church together,^(AV) they declared all that God had done with them, and^(AW) how he had^(AX) opened^(AY) a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸And they remained no little time with the disciples.

Acts 15

The Jerusalem Council

 ^1(AZ) But some men came down from Judea and were teaching^(BA) the brothers, "Unless you are^(BB) circumcised^(BC) according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." ²And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and^(BD) debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and^(BE) some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to^(BF) the apostles and the elders about this question. ³So,^(BG) being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria,^(BH) describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and^(BI) brought great joy to all^(BJ) the brothers.^{[c] 4(BK)} When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and^(BL) the apostles and the elders, and^(BM) they declared all that God had done with them. ⁵But some believers who belonged to^(BN) the party of the Pharisees rose up and said,^(BO) "It is necessary^(BP) to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses."

 ^6(BQ) The^(BR) apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷And after there had been much^(BS) debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you,^(BT) that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear^(BU) the word of^(BV) the gospel and believe. ⁸And God,^(BW) who knows the heart,^(BX) bore witness to them,^(BY) by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹and^(BZ) he made no distinction between us and them,^(CA) having cleansed their hearts^(CB) by faith. ¹⁰Now, therefore, why^(CC) are you putting God to the test^(CD) by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples^(CE) that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹But we^(CF) believe that we will be^(CG) saved through^(CH) the grace of the Lord Jesus,^(CI) just as they will."

 ¹²And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul^(CJ) as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³After they finished speaking,^(CK) James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. ^14(CL) Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them^(CM) a people for his name. ¹⁵And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
 ^16(CN) "'After this I will return,and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;I will rebuild its ruins,
    and I will restore it,
¹⁷that the remnant^[d] of mankind^(CO) may seek the Lord,
   and all the Gentiles^(CP) who are called by my name,
    says the Lord, who makes these things ^18(CQ) known from of old.'

 ¹⁹Therefore^(CR) my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who^(CS) turn to God, ²⁰but should write to them^(CT) to abstain from^(CU) the things polluted by idols, and from^(CV) sexual immorality, and from^(CW) what has been strangled, and from blood. ²¹For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him,^(CX) for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues."

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

 ²²Then it seemed good to^(CY) the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called^(CZ) Barsabbas, and^(DA) Silas, leading men among^(DB) the brothers, ²³with the following letter:^(DC) "The brothers, both^(DD) the apostles and the elders, to the brothers^[e] who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia,^(DE) greetings. ²⁴Since we have heard that^(DF) some persons have gone out from us and^(DG) troubled you^[f] with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, ²⁵it has seemed good to us, having come^(DH) to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our^(DI) beloved Barnabas and Paul, ^26(DJ) men who have^(DK) risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷We have therefore sent^(DL) Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸For it has seemed good^(DM) to the Holy Spirit and^(DN) to us^(DO) to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: ^29(DP) that you abstain from^(DQ) what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

 ³⁰So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. ³²And Judas and Silas, who were themselves^(DR) prophets, encouraged and^(DS) strengthened^(DT) the brothers with many words. ³³And after they had spent some time, they were sent off^(DU) in peace by^(DV) the brothers to those who had sent them.^{[g] 35}But^(DW) Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

 ³⁶And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit^(DX) the brothers^(DY) in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." ³⁷Now Barnabas wanted to take with them^(DZ) John called Mark. ³⁸But Paul thought best not to take with them one^(EA) who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹And there arose^(EB) a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.^(EC) Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas and departed,^(ED) having been commended by^(EE) the brothers to^(EF) the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹And he went through Syria and Cilicia,^(EG) strengthening the churches.