The Jerusalem Council

The conflict

1Then some men came down from Judea and started teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2Well this provoked serious dissension and argument between Paul and Barnabas and them, so Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with certain others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

3So being sent on their way by the congregation, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brothers.

4Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the congregation and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.” ³³⁵

The Council

6So the apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.

7When there had been plenty of discussion, Peter got up and said to them: “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, ³³⁶that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel and believe.

8And the heart-knowing God acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us;

9and He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11Rather, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, ³³⁷in the same manner as they.” ³³⁸

12Then the whole assembly kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the ethnic nations through them.

13Now when they finished, James reacted saying: “Men, brothers, listen to me.

14Simeon has described how God first intervened to extract from the Gentiles a people for His name.

15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

16‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild David's tent, the fallen one; yes, I will rebuild its ruins and restore it;

17so that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles—the ones, that is, upon whom my name has been called—says the Lord who does all these things.’ ³³⁹

18All His works are known to God from eternity. ³⁴⁰

19Therefore I judge that we should not create difficulty for those who are turning to God from among the ethnic nations, ³⁴¹

20but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled, and from blood.

21For from ancient generations Moses has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The edict

22Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas (the one called Barsabas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers.

23They wrote by their hand the following: “The apostles and the elders and the ³⁴²brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

24Since we have heard that some who went out from among us have disturbed you with words, unsettling your souls, saying that you must be circumcised and keep the Law ³⁴³—to whom we gave no such authorization—

25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26men who have risked their lives for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also confirm these things by word of mouth. ³⁴⁴

28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, ³⁴⁵to place no greater burden upon you than these necessary things:

29to abstain from things offered to idols, ³⁴⁶from ‘blood’, from anything strangled and from fornication; ³⁴⁷it will be in your own best interest to keep away from these things. Farewell.”

Good results

30So when they were sent off they came to Antioch, and gathering the crowd they delivered the letter.

31When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

32Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

33After some time, they were released with peace from the brothers to the apostles. ³⁴⁸

35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.

Missionary journey II—Paul and Silas

Paul and Barnabas separate

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit our brothers in each city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

37Now Barnabas resolved to take John (the one called Mark) along as well.

38But Paul insisted on not taking someone who had deserted them in Pamphilia and not gone with them to the work.

39Well the contention became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; ³⁴⁹

40while Paul chose Silas and set out, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of God. ³⁵⁰

41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations.