The Church in Antioch

^19 (A)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^[a] also, ^(B)preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And ^(C)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed ^(D)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 ^(E)the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord ^(F)with steadfast purpose, ²⁴ for he was a good man, ^(G)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people ^(H)were added to the Lord.

The Jerusalem Council

15 ^(A)But some men came down from Judea and were teaching ^(B)the brothers, “Unless you are ^(C)circumcised ^(D)according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ² And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and ^(E)debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and ^(F)some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to ^(G)the apostles and the elders about this question. ³ So, ^(H)being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(I)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and ^(J)brought great joy to all ^(K)the brothers.^{[a] 4 (L)}When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and ^(M)the apostles and the elders, and ^(N)they declared all that God had done with them. ⁵ But some believers who belonged to ^(O)the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, ^(P)“It is necessary ^(Q)to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

^6 (R)The ^(S)apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. ⁷ And after there had been much ^(T)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, ^(U)that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear ^(V)the word of ^(W)the gospel and believe.

Paul Visits James

¹⁷ When we had come to Jerusalem, ^(A)the brothers received us gladly. ¹⁸ On the following day Paul went in with us to ^(B)James, and all ^(C)the elders were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, ^(D)he related one by one ^(E)the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ^(F)ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they ^(G)glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all ^(H)zealous for the law, ²¹ and they have been told about you that you teach all ^(I)the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, ^(J)telling them ^(K)not to circumcise their children or ^(L)walk according to ^(M)our customs. ²² What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³ Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men ^(N)who are under a vow; ²⁴ take these men and ^(O)purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, ^(P)so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. ²⁵ But as for the Gentiles who have believed, ^(Q)we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,^[a] and from sexual immorality.” ²⁶ Then Paul took the men, and the next day ^(R)he purified himself along with them and ^(S)went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and ^(T)the offering presented for each one of them.

Paul Arrested in the Temple

²⁷ When ^(U)the seven days were almost completed, ^(V)the Jews from Asia, ^(W)seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, ²⁸ crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who ^(X)is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and ^(Y)the law and ^(Z)this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and ^(AA)has defiled ^(AB)this holy place.” ²⁹ For they had previously seen ^(AC)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. ³⁰ Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and ^(AD)dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.

¹⁶ So I always ^(A)take pains to have a ^(B)clear conscience toward both God and man.

²⁴ And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, ^(A)you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” ²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, ^(B)most excellent Festus, but I am speaking ^(C)true and ^(D)rational words. ²⁶ For ^(E)the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be ^(F)a Christian?”^{[a] 29} And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day ^(G)might become such as I am—except for ^(H)these chains.”