1And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren , and said , Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses , ye cannot be saved . 2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them , they determined that Paul and Barnabas , and certain other of them , should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question . 3And being brought on their way by the church , they passed through Phenice and Samaria , declaring the conversion of the Gentiles : and they caused great joy unto all the brethren . 4And when they were come to Jerusalem , they were received of the church , and of the apostles and elders , and they declared all things that God had done with them . 5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed , saying , That it was needful to circumcise them , and to command them to keep the law of Moses . 6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter . 7And when there had been much disputing , Peter rose up , and said unto them , Men and brethren , ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us , that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel , and believe . 8And God , which knoweth the hearts , bare them witness , giving them the Holy Ghost , even as he did unto us ; 9And put no difference between us and them , purifying their hearts by faith . 10Now therefore why tempt ye God , to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples , which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear ? 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved , even as they . 12Then all the multitude kept silence , and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul , declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them . 13And after they had held their peace , James answered , saying , Men and brethren , hearken unto me : 14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles , to take out of them a people for his name . 15And to this agree the words of the prophets ; as it is written , 16After this I will return , and will build again the tabernacle of David , which is fallen down ; and I will build again the ruins thereof , and I will set it up : 17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord , and all the Gentiles , upon whom my name is called , saith the Lord , who doeth all these things . 18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world . 19Wherefore my sentence is , that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God : 20But that we write unto them , that they abstain from pollutions of idols , and from fornication , and from things strangled , and from blood . 21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him , being read in the synagogues every sabbath day .
The Decision of the Council
22Then pleased it the apostles and elders , with the whole church , to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas ; namely , Judas surnamed Barsabas , and Silas , chief men among the brethren : 23And they wrote letters by them after this manner ; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia : 24Forasmuch as we have heard , that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words , subverting your souls , saying , Ye must be circumcised , and keep the law : to whom we gave no such commandment : 25It seemed good unto us , being assembled with one accord , to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul , 26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas , who shall also tell you the same things by mouth . 28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost , and to us , to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things ; 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols , and from blood , and from things strangled , and from fornication : from which if ye keep yourselves , ye shall do well . Fare ye well .
The Reaction to the Council's Decision
30So when they were dismissed , they came to Antioch : and when they had gathered the multitude together , they delivered the epistle : 31Which when they had read , they rejoiced for the consolation . 32And Judas and Silas , being prophets also themselves , exhorted the brethren with many words , and confirmed them . 33And after they had tarried there a space , they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles . 34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still . 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch , teaching and preaching the word of the Lord , with many others also . 36And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas , Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord , and see how they do . 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John , whose surname was Mark . 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them , who departed from them from Pamphylia , and went not with them to the work . 39And the contention was so sharp between them , that they departed asunder one from the other : and so Barnabas took Mark , and sailed unto Cyprus ; 40And Paul chose Silas , and departed , being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God . 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia , confirming the churches .