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Acts Chapter 15|#11 And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.#22 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 to the apostles and elders about this question.|*23 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 to all the brethren.#24 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.#25 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.|*26 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.#27 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them, Men and brethren, you 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.#28 And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did to us;#29 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.#210 Now therefore why tempt you God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?#211 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.|*212 Then all the crowd kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.|*213 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, listen to me:#214 Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.#215 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,#216 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins of it, and I will set it up:#217 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, said the Lord, who does all these things.#218 Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.|*219 Therefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:#220 But that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.#221 For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.|*222 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:#223 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:#224 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have disturbed you with words, subverting your souls, saying, you must be circumcised, and keep the law: To whom we gave no such commandment:#225 It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,#226 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.#227 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.#228 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;#229 That you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: From which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Fare you well.|*230 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: And when they had gathered the crowd together, they delivered the epistle:#231 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.#232 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.#233 And after they had stayed there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren to the apostles.#234 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.#235 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.|+#236 And some days after Paul said to 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.#237 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.#238 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.#239 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: And so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;#240 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren to the grace of God.#241 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.