¹⁹ Then some Jews^(A) came from Antioch and Iconium^(B) and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul^(C) and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But after the disciples^(D) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

The Return to Antioch in Syria

²¹ They preached the gospel^(E) in that city and won a large number^(F) of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium^(G) and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.^(H) “We must go through many hardships^(I) to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[a](J) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,^(K) committed them to the Lord,^(L) in whom they had put their trust. ²⁴ After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,^{(M) 25} and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

²⁶ From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,^(N) where they had been committed to the grace of God^(O) for the work they had now completed.^{(P) 27} On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them^(Q) and how he had opened a door^(R) of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.^(S)

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Certain people^(T) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:^(U) “Unless you are circumcised,^(V) according to the custom taught by Moses,^(W) you cannot be saved.” ² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(X) to see the apostles and elders^(Y) about this question. ³ The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia^(Z) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.^(AA) This news made all the believers very glad. ⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.^(AB)

⁵ Then some of the believers who belonged to the party^(AC) of the Pharisees^(AD) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”^(AE)

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.^{(AF) 8} God, who knows the heart,^(AG) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,^(AH) just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them,^(AI) for he purified their hearts by faith.^{(AJ) 10} Now then, why do you try to test God^(AK) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke^(AL) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace^(AM) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹² The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders^(AN) God had done among the Gentiles through them.^{(AO) 13} When they finished, James^(AP) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon^[b] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.^{(AQ) 15} The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(AT) from sexual immorality,^(AU) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(AV) 21} For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(AW)

BOOK V

Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107