Beginning
Acceptance and Opposition
14 In (A)Iconium (B)they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner (C)that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of (D)Greeks. 2 But (E)the Jews who [a](F)disbelieved stirred up the [b]minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against (G)the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there (H)speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that [c](I)signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4 (J)But the [d]people of the city were divided; and some [e]sided with (K)the Jews, and some with (L)the apostles. 5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and (M)the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to (N)stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of (O)Lycaonia, (P)Lystra and (Q)Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to (R)preach the gospel.
8 At (S)Lystra (T)a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, (U)when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had (V)faith to be [f]made well, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” (W)And he leaped up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the (X)Lycaonian language, “(Y)The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 And they began calling Barnabas, [g]Zeus, and Paul, [h]Hermes, because he was [i]the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was [j]just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and (Z)wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when (AA)the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they (AB)tore their [k]robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also (AC)men of the same nature as you, and (AD)preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these [l](AE)vain things to a (AF)living God, (AG)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 [m]In the generations gone by He (AH)permitted all the [n]nations to (AI)go their own ways; 17 and yet (AJ)He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and (AK)gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, [o]satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
19 But (AL)Jews came from (AM)Antioch and (AN)Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they (AO)stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while (AP)the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to (AQ)Derbe. 21 After they had (AR)preached the gospel to that city and had (AS)made many disciples, they returned to (AT)Lystra and to (AU)Iconium and to (AV)Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of (AW)the disciples, encouraging them to continue in (AX)the faith, and saying, “(AY)Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When (AZ)they had appointed (BA)elders for them in every church, having (BB)prayed with fasting, they (BC)commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24 They passed through (BD)Pisidia and came into (BE)Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in (BF)Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to (BG)Antioch, from (BH)which they had been (BI)commended to the grace of God for the work that they had [p]accomplished. 27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to (BJ)report all things that God had done with them and [q]how He had opened a (BK)door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent [r]a long time with (BL)the disciples.
The Council at Jerusalem
15 (BM)Some men came down from Judea and began teaching (BN)the brethren, “Unless you are (BO)circumcised according to (BP)the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had [s]great dissension and (BQ)debate with them, (BR)the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the (BS)apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, being (BT)sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both (BU)Phoenicia and Samaria, (BV)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all (BW)the brethren. 4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and (BX)the apostles and the elders, and they (BY)reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of (BZ)the sect of the (CA)Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to (CB)circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
6 (CC)The apostles and the elders came together to [t]look into this [u]matter. 7 After there had been much (CD)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that [v]in the early days (CE)God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of (CF)the gospel and believe. 8 And God, (CG)who knows the heart, testified to them (CH)giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and (CI)He made no distinction between us and them, (CJ)cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you (CK)put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which (CL)neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through (CM)the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were (CN)relating what (CO)signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
James’s Judgment
13 After they had stopped speaking, [w](CP)James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 14 (CQ)Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15 With this the words of (CR)the Prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 ‘(CS)After these things (CT)I will return,
And I will rebuild the [x]tabernacle of David which has fallen,
And I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will restore it,
17 (CU)So that the rest of [y]mankind may seek the Lord,
And all the Gentiles [z](CV)who are called by My name,’
18 (CW)Says the Lord, who [aa](CX)makes these things known from long ago.
19 Therefore it is (CY)my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from [ab](CZ)things contaminated by idols and from (DA)fornication and from (DB)what is strangled and from blood. 21 For (DC)Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since [ac]he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it seemed good to (DD)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to (DE)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and (DF)Silas, leading men among (DG)the brethren, 23 and they [ad]sent this letter by them,
“(DH)The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to (DI)the brethren in (DJ)Antioch and (DK)Syria and (DL)Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, (DM)greetings.
24 “Since we have heard that (DN)some [ae]of our number to whom we gave no instruction have (DO)disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 25 (DP)it seemed good to us, having [af]become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have [ag](DQ)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 “Therefore we have sent (DR)Judas and (DS)Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 “For (DT)it seemed good to (DU)the Holy Spirit and to (DV)us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from (DW)things sacrificed to idols and from (DX)blood and from (DY)things strangled and from (DZ)fornication; [ah]if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 So when they were sent away, (EA)they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the [ai]congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its [aj]encouragement. 32 (EB)Judas and (EC)Silas, also being (ED)prophets themselves, [ak]encouraged and strengthened (EE)the brethren with a lengthy message. 33 After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren (EF)in peace to those who had (EG)sent them out. 34 [[al]But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] 35 But (EH)Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and (EI)preaching with many others also, (EJ)the word of the Lord.
Second Missionary Journey
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in (EK)every city in which we proclaimed (EL)the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take (EM)John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had (EN)deserted them [am]in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took (EO)Mark with him and sailed away to (EP)Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose (EQ)Silas and left, being (ER)committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he was traveling through (ES)Syria and (ET)Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.