Chronological
15 1 Certain go about to bring in circumcision at Antioch: 6 About which matter the Apostles consult: 19 and what must be done 23 they declare by letters. 36 Paul and Barnabas 39 are at great variance.
1 Then [a]came down [b]certain from Judea, and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 [c]And when there was great dissension, and disputation by Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordained that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question.
3 Thus [d]being brought forth by the Church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders, and they declared what things God had done by them.
5 But said they, certain of the sect of the Pharisees, which did believe, rose up, saying that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.
6 [e]Then the Apostles and Elders came together to look to this matter.
7 And when there had been great disputation, Peter rose up, and said unto them, (A)[f]Ye men and brethren, ye know that a [g]good while ago, among us God chose out me, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe.
8 And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, in giving unto them the holy Ghost even as he did unto us.
9 And he put no [h]difference between us and them, after that (B)[i]by faith he had purified their hearts.
10 [j]Now therefore, why [k]tempt ye God, to (C)lay a yoke on the disciples’ necks, which neither our fathers, nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, even as they do.
12 [l]Then all the multitude kept silence, and heard Barnabas and Paul, which told what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.
13 And when they held their peace, [m]James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me.
14 [n]Simeon hath declared, how God first did visit the Gentiles, to take of them a people unto his Name.
15 And to this agree the words of the Prophets, as it is written,
16 (D)After this I will return, and will build again the Tabernacle of David, which is fallen down, and the ruins thereof will I build again, and I will set it up.
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my Name is called, saith the Lord which doeth all these things.
18 From the beginning of the world, God [o]knoweth all his works.
19 [p]Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them of the Gentiles that are turned to God,
20 But that we send unto them, that they abstain themselves from [q]filthiness of idols, and fornication, and that is strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, seeing he is read in the Synagogues every Sabbath day.
22 [r]Then it seemed good to the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: to wit, Judas whose surname was Barsabas, and Silas, which were chief men among the brethren,
23 And wrote letters by them after this manner, THE APOSTLES, and the Elders, and the brethren, Unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, send greeting.
24 [s]Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which [t]went out from us, have troubled you with words, and [u]cumbered your minds, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keep the Law: to whom we gave no such commandment,
25 It seemed therefore good to us, when we were come together with one accord, to [send] chosen men unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.
26 Men that have [v]given up their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, which shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 [w]For it seemed good to the [x]holy Ghost, and [y]to us, to lay no more burden upon you, than these [z]necessary things.
29 [aa]That is, that ye abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and that that is strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 [ab]Now when they were departed, they came to Antioch, and after that they had assembled the multitude, they delivered the Epistle,
31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas being Prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and strengthened them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in [ac]peace of the brethren unto the Apostles.
34 Notwithstanding Silas thought good to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of the Lord.
36 ¶ [ad]But after certain days, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return and visit our brethren in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 [ae]And Barnabas counseled to take with them John, called Mark.
38 But Paul thought it not meet to take him unto their company, which departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 [af]Then were they so [ag]stirred, that they departed asunder one from the other, so that Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.
40 And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended of the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, establishing the Churches.
16 1 Paul having circumcised Timothy, 12 being at Philippi, 14 instructed Lydia in the faith. 16 The spirit of divination, 18 is by him cast out: 20 and for that cause 22 they are whipped, 24 and imprisoned. 26 Through an earthquake, 27 the prison doors are opened. 31, 32 The Gaoler receiveth the faith.
1 Then [ah]came he to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named (E)Timothy, a woman’s son, which was a [ai]Jewess and believed, but his father was a Grecian,
2 Of whom the brethren which were at Lystra and Iconium, [aj]reported well.
3 [ak]Therefore Paul would that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him, because of the Jews, which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Grecian.
4 [al]And as they went through the cities, they delivered them [am]the decrees to keep, ordained of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the Churches established in the faith, [and] increased in number daily.
6 ¶ [an]Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, they were [ao]forbidden of the holy Ghost, to preach the word in Asia.
7 Then came they to Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 Therefore they passed through Mysia, and came down to Troas,
9 [ap]Where a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come into Macedonia, and help us.
10 [aq]And after he had seen the vision, immediately we prepared to go into Macedonia, being assured that the Lord had called us to preach the Gospel unto them.
11 Then went we forth from Troas, and with a straight course came to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis.
12 ¶ And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city in the parts of Macedonia, and whose inhabitants came from Rome to dwell there: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 [ar]And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city, besides a river, where they were wont to [as]pray: and we sat down, and spake unto the women, which were come together.
14 [at]And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of the Thyatirians, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things, which Paul spake.
15 [au]And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into mine house, and abide there: and she constrained us.
16 [av]And it came to pass that as we went to prayer, a certain maid having a spirit [aw]of divination, met us, which gat her masters much vantage with divining.
17 She followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto you the way of salvation.
18 And this did she [ax]many days: but Paul being grieved, turned about, and said to the spirit, I command thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, that thou come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19 [ay]Now when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the Magistrates.
20 [az]And brought them to the governors, saying, These men which are Jews trouble our city,
21 [ba]And preach ordinances, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, seeing we are Romans.
22 [bb]The people also rose up together against them, and the governors rent their clothes, and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23 And when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison, commanding the Gaoler to keep them surely,
24 Who having received such commandment, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet [bc]fast in the stocks.
25 [bd]Now at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sung Psalms unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken: and by and by all the doors opened, and every man’s bands were loosed.
27 [be]Then the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled.
28 [bf]But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we all are here.
29 Then he called for a light, and leaped in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thine household.
32 And they preached unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in the house.
33 [bg]Afterward he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized with all that belonged unto him straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced that he with all his household believed in God.
35 [bh]And when it was day, the governors sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 Then the keeper of the prison told these words unto Paul, saying, The governors have sent to loose you: now therefore get you hence, and go in peace.
37 [bi]Then said Paul unto them, After that they have beaten us openly uncondemned, which are Romans, they have cast us into prison, and now would they put us out privily? nay verily: but let them come and bring us out.
38 [bj]And the sergeants told these words unto the governors, who feared when they heard that they were Romans.
39 Then came they and prayed them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40 [bk]And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
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