1 ^15:1AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. ^15:2There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. ^15:3They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. ^15:4And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. ^15:5But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

2 ^15:6And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. ^15:7And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. ^15:8And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, ^15:9and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. ^15:10Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? ^15:11But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they.

3 ^15:12And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. ^15:13And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. ^15:14Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. ^15:15And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, ^15:16After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, ^15:17that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, ^15:18known from eternity. ^15:19Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, ^15:20but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. ^15:21For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

4 ^15:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, ^15:23writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. ^15:24Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, ^15:25it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ^15:26men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^15:27We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. ^15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; ^15:29that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.

5 ^15:30They, therefore, being dismissed went to Antioch, and assembling the multitude delivered the epistle. ^15:31And reading it they rejoiced at the exhortation. ^15:32And Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers with much argument, and confirmed them. ^15:33And having staid [some] time, they were dismissed in peace by the brothers to those that sent them. ^15:35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of the Lord.