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Chapter 15
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1
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And certain men which came down from Judaea taught
the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after
the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. |
2
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When 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. |
3
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And 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. |
4
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And 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. |
5
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But 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. |
6
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And the apostles and elders came together for to consider
of this matter. |
7
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And 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. |
8
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And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness,
giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; |
9
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And put no difference between us and them, purifying
their hearts by faith. |
10
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Now 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? |
11
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But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus
Christ we shall be saved, even as they. |
12
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Then 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. |
13
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And after they had held their peace, James answered,
saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: |
14
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Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit
the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. |
15
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And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it
is written, |
16
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After 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: |
17
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That 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. |
18
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Known unto God are all his works from the beginning
of the world. |
19
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Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them,
which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: |
20
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But that we write unto them, that they abstain from
pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things
strangled, and from blood. |
21
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For Moses of old time hath in every city them that
preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath
day. |
22
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Then 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: |
23
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And 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. |
24
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Forasmuch 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: |
25
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It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord,
to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas
and Paul, |
26
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Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ. |
27
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We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also
tell you the same things by mouth. |
28
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For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to
lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; |
29
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That 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. |
30
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So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch:
and when they had gathered the multitude together, they
delivered the epistle: |
31
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Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. |
32
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And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves,
exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed
them. |
33
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And after they had tarried there a space, they were
let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. |
34
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Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. |
35
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Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching
and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others
also. |
36
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And 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. |
37
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And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose
surname was Mark. |
38
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But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who
departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with
them to the work. |
39
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And the contention was so sharp between them, that
they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas
took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; |
40
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And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended
by the brethren unto the grace of God. |
41
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And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the
churches. |
