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The Actes 15 - King James 1611 bible

The Actes 15

¹And certaine men which came downe from Iudea, taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saued.

²When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certeine other of them, should goe vp to Hierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders about this question.

³And being brought on their way by the Church, they passed thorow Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conuersion of the Gentiles: and they caused great ioy vnto all the brethren.

⁴And when they were come to Hierusalem, they were receiued of the Church, and of the Apostles, and Elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

⁵But there rose vp certaine of the sect of the Pharisees which beleeued, saying, that it was needfull to circumcise them, and to comand them to keepe the Law of Moses.

⁶And the Apostles & Elders came together for to consider of this matter.

⁷And when there had bene much disputing, Peter rose vp, and said vnto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while agoe, God made choise among vs, that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the worde of the Gospel, and beleeue.

⁸And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witnes, giuing them the holy Ghost, euen as he did vnto vs,

⁹And put no difference between vs & them, purifying their hearts by faith.

¹⁰Now therfore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke vpon the necke of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to beare?

¹¹But we beleeue that through the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ, we shal be saued euen as they.

¹²Then all the multitude kept silence, and gaue audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

¹³And after they had helde their peace, Iames answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken vnto me.

¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visite 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 returne, and wil build againe the Tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe: and I will build againe the ruines thereof, and I will set it vp:

¹⁷That the residue of men might seeke after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, vpon whom my Name is called, sayth the Lord, who doeth all these things.

¹⁸Knowen vnto God are all his workes fro 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 wee write vnto them, that they abstaine from pollutions of Idoles, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

²¹For Moses of olde time hath in euery citie them that preach him, being read in the Synagogues euery Sabbath day.

²²Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church, to send chosen men of their owne company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas: namely, Iudas surnamed Barsabas, & Silas, chiefe men among the brethren,

²³And wrote letters by them after this maner, The Apostles and Elders, and brethren, send greeting vnto the brethren, which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.

²⁴Forasmuch as we haue heard, that certaine which went out from vs, haue troubled you with words, subuerting your soules, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keepe the Law, to whom we gaue no such commandement:

²⁵It seemed good vnto vs, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men vnto you, with our beloued Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶Men that haue hazarded their liues for the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ.

²⁷Wee haue sent therefore Iudas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

²⁸For it seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to vs, to lay vpon you no greater burden then these necessarie things;

²⁹That ye abstaine from meates offered to idoles, and from blood, & from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keepe your selues, yee shall doe well. Fare ye well.

³⁰So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they deliuered the Epistle.

³¹Which when they had read, they reioyced for the consolation.

³²And Iudas and Silas, being Prophets also themselues, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them:

³³And after they had taried there a space, they were let goe in peace from the breehren vnto 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 dayes after, Paul said vnto Barnabas, Let vs go againe and visit our brethren, in euery city where we haue preached the word of the Lord, and see how they doe.

³⁷And Barnabas determined to take with them Iohn, whose surname was Marke.

³⁸But Paul thought not good to take him with them; who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the worke.

³⁹And the contention was so sharpe betweene them, that they departed asunder one from the other: & so Barnabas tooke Marke, & sailed vnto Cyprus.

⁴⁰And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren vnto the grace of God.

⁴¹And he went thorow Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches.