Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Disagreement about circumcision. The apostles bring peace to the matter at Jerusalem, and Paul and Barnabas preach at Antioch.

15 Then certain men came from Judea and taught the brethren, Unless you are circumcised as observed by Moses, you cannot be saved. ² And when dissension arose, and Paul and Barnabas had set themselves hard against them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. ³ And after they were brought on their way by the congregation, they passed over Phoenicia and Samaria, telling about the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brethren.

⁴ And when they got to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the congregation, and by the apostles and elders. And they described what things God had done by them. ⁵ Then there rose up certain men of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying that it was necessary to circumcise the Gentiles, and to enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.

²² Then it pleased the apostles and elders with the whole congregation to send men chosen from their own company to Antioch (in Syria) with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas, called also Barsabas, and Silas, who were chief men among the brethren, ²³ and gave them letters in their hands as follows:

The apostles, elders, and brethren send greetings to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. ²⁴ Since we have heard that certain men who departed from us have troubled you with words and unsettled your minds, saying you must be circumcised and keep the law – to whom we gave no such instruction – ²⁵ it seemed therefore to us a good thing, when we came together with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things by mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put no greater burden upon you than these necessary things, ²⁹ that is to say, to abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and fornication. From which, if you keep yourselves, you will do well. So fare ye well.

³⁰ When they departed, they went to Antioch, and gathered the whole community together and delivered the epistle. ³¹ When they had read it, the people were glad of that consolation. ³² And Judas and Silas, being prophets, exhorted the brethren with much preaching, and strengthened them. ³³ And after they had stayed there a little while, they were let go in peace from the brethren to the apostles. ³⁴ Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to remain there still. ³⁵ Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others.