Peter and Cornelius

10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of ^(A)what was known as the Italian Cohort, ² a devout man ^(B)who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. ^3 (C)About the ninth hour of the day^{[a] (D)}he saw clearly in a vision ^(E)an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴ And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms ^(F)have ascended ^(G)as a memorial before God. ⁵ And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is lodging ^(H)with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, ⁸ and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Vision

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, ^(I)Peter went up ^(J)on the housetop about ^(K)the sixth hour^[b] to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into ^(L)a trance ¹¹ and saw ^(M)the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; ^(N)for I have never eaten anything that is ^(O)common or ^(P)unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, ^(Q)“What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what ^(R)the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, ^(S)the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate ¹⁸ and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹ And while Peter was pondering ^(T)the vision, ^(U)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Rise and go down and ^(V)accompany them without hesitation,^[c] for I have sent them.” ²¹ And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and ^(W)God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by ^(X)a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and ^(Y)to hear what you have to say.” ²³ So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and ^(Z)some of ^(AA)the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴ And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and ^(AB)fell down at his feet and ^(AC)worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^(AD)“Stand up; I too am a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. ²⁸ And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew ^(AE)to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but ^(AF)God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

³⁰ And Cornelius said, ^(AG)“Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at ^(AH)the ninth hour,^[d] and behold, ^(AI)a man stood before me in bright clothing ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, ^(AJ)your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

³⁴ So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that ^(AK)God ^(AL)shows no partiality, ³⁵ but ^(AM)in every nation anyone who fears him and ^(AN)does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ As for ^(AO)the word that he sent to Israel, ^(AP)preaching good news of ^(AQ)peace through Jesus Christ (^(AR)he is Lord of all), ³⁷ you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, ^(AS)beginning ^(AT)from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: ³⁸ how ^(AU)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth ^(AV)with the Holy Spirit and with ^(AW)power. He went about doing good and healing all ^(AX)who were oppressed by the devil, ^(AY)for God was with him. ³⁹ And ^(AZ)we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. ^(BA)They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but ^(BB)God raised him on ^(BC)the third day and made him to ^(BD)appear, ^41 (BE)not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as ^(BF)witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And ^(BG)he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify ^(BH)that he is the one appointed by God to be judge ^(BI)of the living and the dead. ^43 (BJ)To him ^(BK)all the prophets bear witness that ^(BL)everyone who believes in him receives ^(BM)forgiveness of sins ^(BN)through his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, ^(BO)the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among ^(BP)the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because ^(BQ)the gift of the Holy Spirit ^(BR)was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them ^(BS)speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ^47 (BT)“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit ^(BU)just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he ^(BV)commanded them ^(BW)to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Peter Reports to the Church

11 Now the apostles and ^(BX)the brothers^[e] who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, ^(BY)the circumcision party^[f] criticized him, saying, ^3 (BZ)“You went to uncircumcised men and ^(CA)ate with them.” ⁴ But Peter began and explained it to them in order: ^5 (CB)“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. ⁶ Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ ¹⁰ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² And the Spirit told me to go with them, ^(CC)making no distinction. ^(CD)These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. ¹³ And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; ^14 (CE)he will declare to you a message by which ^(CF)you will be saved, you and all your household.’ ¹⁵ As I began to speak, ^(CG)the Holy Spirit fell on them ^(CH)just as on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ^(CI)‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ If then ^(CJ)God gave ^(CK)the same gift to them as he gave to us ^(CL)when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(CM)who was I ^(CN)that I could stand in God's way?” ¹⁸ When they heard these things they fell silent. And they ^(CO)glorified God, saying, ^(CP)“Then to the Gentiles also God has ^(CQ)granted ^(CR)repentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

^19 (CS)Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. ²⁰ But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists^[g] also, ^(CT)preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And ^(CU)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed ^(CV)turned to the Lord. ²² The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he came and saw ^(CW)the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord ^(CX)with steadfast purpose, ²⁴ for he was a good man, ^(CY)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people ^(CZ)were added to the Lord. ²⁵ So Barnabas went to ^(DA)Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called ^(DB)Christians.

²⁷ Now in these days ^(DC)prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ And one of them named ^(DD)Agabus stood up and foretold ^(DE)by the Spirit that there would be a great ^(DF)famine over all the world (this took place in the days of ^(DG)Claudius). ²⁹ So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, ^(DH)to send relief to ^(DI)the brothers^[h] living in Judea. ^30 (DJ)And they did so, sending it to ^(DK)the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

12 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. ² He killed ^(DL)James the brother of John ^(DM)with the sword, ³ and when he saw ^(DN)that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during ^(DO)the days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ And when he had seized him, he put him ^(DP)in prison, delivering him over to four ^(DQ)squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest ^(DR)prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Peter Is Rescued

⁶ Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, ^(DS)bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, ^(DT)an angel of the Lord ^(DU)stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. ^(DV)He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And ^(DW)the chains fell off his hands. ⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and ^(DX)put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but ^(DY)thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. ^(DZ)It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter ^(EA)came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that ^(EB)the Lord has sent his angel and ^(EC)rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of ^(ED)John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and ^(EE)were praying. ¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, ^(EF)a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter's voice, ^(EG)in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is ^(EH)his angel!” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But ^(EI)motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to ^(EJ)James and to ^(EK)the brothers.”^[i] Then he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸ Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ^(EL)ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

The Death of Herod

²⁰ Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and ^(EM)having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain,^[j] they asked for peace, because ^(EN)their country depended on the king's country for food. ²¹ On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. ²² And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” ²³ Immediately ^(EO)an angel of the Lord struck him down, because ^(EP)he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

²⁴ But ^(EQ)the word of God increased and multiplied.

^25 (ER)And Barnabas and Saul returned from^[k] Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them ^(ES)John, whose other name was Mark.

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch ^(ET)prophets and ^(EU)teachers, ^(EV)Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,^[l] Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of ^(EW)Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, ^(EX)the Holy Spirit said, ^(EY)“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul ^(EZ)for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and ^(FA)praying they laid their hands on them and ^(FB)sent them off.

Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus

⁴ So, being sent out ^(FC)by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵ When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God ^(FD)in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had ^(FE)John to ^(FF)assist them. ⁶ When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain ^(FG)magician, ^(FH)a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. ⁷ He was with ^(FI)the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas the ^(FJ)magician (for that is the meaning of his name) ^(FK)opposed them, seeking to turn ^(FL)the proconsul away from the faith. ⁹ But Saul, who was also called Paul, ^(FM)filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ¹⁰ and said, “You ^(FN)son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and ^(FO)villainy, will you not stop ^(FP)making crooked ^(FQ)the straight paths of the Lord? ¹¹ And now, behold, ^(FR)the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking ^(FS)people to lead him by the hand. ¹² Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at ^(FT)the teaching of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

¹³ Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And ^(FU)John left them and returned ^(FV)to Jerusalem, ¹⁴ but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And ^(FW)on the Sabbath day ^(FX)they went into the synagogue and sat down. ¹⁵ After ^(FY)the reading from ^(FZ)the Law and the Prophets, ^(GA)the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any ^(GB)word of encouragement for the people, say it.” ¹⁶ So Paul stood up, and ^(GC)motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and ^(GD)you who fear God, listen. ^17 (GE)The God of this people Israel ^(GF)chose our fathers and ^(GG)made the people great ^(GH)during their stay in the land of Egypt, and ^(GI)with uplifted arm he led them out of it. ¹⁸ And for about ^(GJ)forty years ^(GK)he put up with^[m] them in the wilderness. ¹⁹ And ^(GL)after destroying ^(GM)seven nations in the land of Canaan, ^(GN)he gave them their land as an inheritance. ²⁰ All this took about 450 years. And after that ^(GO)he gave them judges until ^(GP)Samuel the prophet. ²¹ Then ^(GQ)they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul ^(GR)the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. ²² And ^(GS)when he had removed him, ^(GT)he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ^(GU)‘I have found in David the son of Jesse ^(GV)a man after my heart, ^(GW)who will do all my will.’ ^23 (GX)Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel ^(GY)a Savior, Jesus, ^(GZ)as he promised. ²⁴ Before his coming, ^(HA)John had proclaimed ^(HB)a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And as John was finishing his course, ^(HC)he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

²⁶ “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you ^(HD)who fear God, to us has been sent ^(HE)the message of ^(HF)this salvation. ²⁷ For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because ^(HG)they did not recognize him nor understand ^(HH)the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, ^(HI)fulfilled them by condemning him. ²⁸ And ^(HJ)though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, ^(HK)they asked Pilate to have him executed. ²⁹ And when ^(HL)they had carried out all that was written of him, ^(HM)they took him down from ^(HN)the tree and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ But ^(HO)God raised him from the dead, ³¹ and for many days ^(HP)he appeared to those ^(HQ)who had come up with him ^(HR)from Galilee to Jerusalem, ^(HS)who are now ^(HT)his witnesses to the people. ³² And we bring you the good news ^(HU)that what God promised to the fathers, ^33 (HV)this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

³⁴ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, ^(HX)(HY)no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

³⁵ Therefore he says also in another psalm,

³⁶ For David, after he had ^(IB)served the purpose of God in his own generation, ^(IC)fell asleep and ^(ID)was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, ³⁷ but he whom ^(IE)God raised up did not see corruption. ³⁸ Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, ^(IF)that through this man ^(IG)forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, ³⁹ and by him ^(IH)everyone who believes is freed^[n] from everything ^(II)from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

⁴² As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. ⁴³ And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and ^(IK)devout ^(IL)converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them ^(IM)to continue in ^(IN)the grace of God.

⁴⁴ The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ^45 (IO)But ^(IP)when the Jews^[o] saw the crowds, they were filled with ^(IQ)jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, ^(IR)reviling him. ⁴⁶ And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God ^(IS)be spoken first to you. ^(IT)Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves ^(IU)unworthy of eternal life, behold, we ^(IV)are turning to the Gentiles. ^47 (IW)For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

⁴⁸ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and ^(JA)glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. ^50 (JB)But the Jews incited the devout ^(JC)women of high standing and the leading men of the city, ^(JD)stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and ^(JE)drove them out of their district. ⁵¹ But they ^(JF)shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled ^(JG)with joy and ^(JH)with the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Barnabas at Iconium

14 Now at Iconium ^(JI)they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. ^2 (JJ)But the ^(JK)unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against ^(JL)the brothers.^{[p] 3} So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for ^(JM)the Lord, who bore witness to ^(JN)the word of his grace, ^(JO)granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ⁴ But the people of the city ^(JP)were divided; ^(JQ)some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. ⁵ When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, ^(JR)to mistreat them and ^(JS)to stone them, ⁶ they learned of it and ^(JT)fled to ^(JU)Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, ⁷ and there they continued to preach the gospel.

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

⁸ Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was ^(JV)crippled from birth and had never walked. ⁹ He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and ^(JW)seeing that he had faith to be made well,^{[q] 10} said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he ^(JX)sprang up and began walking. ¹¹ And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, ^(JY)“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ¹² Barnabas they called ^(JZ)Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ And the priest of ^(KA)Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and ^(KB)wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. ¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they ^(KC)tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, ^(KD)why are you doing these things? We also are men, ^(KE)of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that ^(KF)you should turn from these ^(KG)vain things to ^(KH)a living God, ^(KI)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. ¹⁶ In past generations he ^(KJ)allowed all the nations ^(KK)to walk in their own ways. ¹⁷ Yet ^(KL)he did not leave himself without witness, for he ^(KM)did good by ^(KN)giving you rains from heaven and ^(KO)fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with ^(KP)food and ^(KQ)gladness.” ¹⁸ Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

Paul Stoned at Lystra

^19 (KR)But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, ^(KS)they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰ But 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. ²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had ^(KT)made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ^22 (KU)strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them ^(KV)to continue in ^(KW)the faith, and saying that ^(KX)through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ²³ And when they had ^(KY)appointed ^(KZ)elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting ^(LA)they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria

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

The Jerusalem Council

15 ^(LH)But some men came down from Judea and were teaching ^(LI)the brothers, “Unless you are ^(LJ)circumcised ^(LK)according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and ^(LL)debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and ^(LM)some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to ^(LN)the apostles and the elders about this question. ³ So, ^(LO)being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(LP)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and ^(LQ)brought great joy to all ^(LR)the brothers.^{[r] 4 (LS)}When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and ^(LT)the apostles and the elders, and ^(LU)they declared all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some believers who belonged to ^(LV)the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ^(LW)“It is necessary ^(LX)to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

^6 (LY)The ^(LZ)apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷ And after there had been much ^(MA)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, ^(MB)that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear ^(MC)the word of ^(MD)the gospel and believe. ⁸ And God, ^(ME)who knows the heart, ^(MF)bore witness to them, ^(MG)by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, ⁹ and ^(MH)he made no distinction between us and them, ^(MI)having cleansed their hearts ^(MJ)by faith. ¹⁰ Now, therefore, why ^(MK)are you putting God to the test ^(ML)by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples ^(MM)that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we ^(MN)believe that we will be ^(MO)saved through ^(MP)the grace of the Lord Jesus, ^(MQ)just as they will.”

¹² And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul ^(MR)as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they finished speaking, ^(MS)James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. ^14 (MT)Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ^(MU)a people for his name. ¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

¹⁹ Therefore ^(MZ)my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who ^(NA)turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them ^(NB)to abstain from ^(NC)the things polluted by idols, and from ^(ND)sexual immorality, and from ^(NE)what has been strangled, and from ^(NF)blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, ^(NG)for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then it seemed good to ^(NH)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 ^(NI)Barsabbas, and ^(NJ)Silas, leading men among ^(NK)the brothers, ²³ with the following letter: ^(NL)“The brothers, both ^(NM)the apostles and the elders, to the brothers^[t] who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, ^(NN)greetings. ²⁴ Since we have heard that ^(NO)some persons have gone out from us and ^(NP)troubled you^[u] with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, ²⁵ it has seemed good to us, having come ^(NQ)to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our ^(NR)beloved Barnabas and Paul, ^26 (NS)men who have ^(NT)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent ^(NU)Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it has seemed good ^(NV)to the Holy Spirit and ^(NW)to us ^(NX)to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: ^29 (NY)that you abstain from ^(NZ)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.”

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

Paul and Barnabas Separate

³⁶ And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit ^(OG)the brothers ^(OH)in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take with them ^(OI)John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought best not to take with them one ^(OJ)who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ And there arose ^(OK)a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. ^(OL)Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, ^(OM)having been commended by ^(ON)the brothers to ^(OO)the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, ^(OP)strengthening the churches.