15Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!"G2532G5100G2718G575G2449G1321G80G3754G3362G4059G1485G3475G3756G1410G49822But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.G3767G3972G2532G921G1096G3756G3641G4714G2532G4803G4314G846G5021G3972G2532G921G2532G5100G243G1537G846G305G1519G2419G4314G652G2532G4245G4012G5127G22133When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers.G3303G3767G4311G5259G1577G1330G5403G2532G4540G1555G1995G1484G2532G4160G3173G5479G3956G804When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.G1161G3854G1519G2419G588G5259G1577G2532G652G2532G4245G5037G312G3745G2316G4160G3326G8465But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses!"G1161G1817G5100G575G139G5330G4100G3004G3754G1163G4059G846G5037G3853G5083G3551G34756Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter.G1161G652G2532G4245G4863G1492G4012G5127G30567After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: "Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.G1161G1096G4183G4803G4074G450G2036G4314G846G435G80G5210G1987G3754G744G2250G575G2316G1586G1722G2254G1484G1223G3450G4750G191G3056G2098G2532G41008And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us.G2532G2316G2589G846G3140G1325G846G40G4151G2532G2531G22549He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.G2532G1252G3762G1252G3342G5037G2257G2532G846G2511G846G2588G410210Why, then, are you now testing God by putting on the disciples' necks a yoke that neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?G3568G3767G5101G3985G2316G2007G2218G1909G5137G3101G3739G3777G2257G3962G3777G2249G2480G94111On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are."G235G4100G1223G5485G2962G2424G5547G4982G2596G3739G5158G254812Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.G1161G3956G4128G4601G2532G191G921G2532G3972G1834G3745G4592G2532G5059G2316G4160G1722G1484G1223G84613After they stopped speaking, James responded: "Brothers, listen to me!G1161G3326G4601G846G4601G2385G611G3004G435G80G191G345014Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name.G4826G1834G2531G2316G4412G1980G1484G2983G1537G2992G1909G846G368615And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:G2532G5129G4856G3056G4396G2531G112516After these things I will return and will rebuild David's tent, which has fallen down. I will rebuild its ruins and will set it up again,G3326G5023G390G2532G456G4633G1138G3588G4098G2532G456G2679G846G2532G461G846G46117so that those who are left of mankind may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things,G3704G302G2645G444G1567G2962G2532G3956G1484G1909G3739G3450G3686G1941G1909G846G3004G2962G3588G4160G3956G502318which have been known from long ago.G1110G2316G2076G3956G846G2041G575G16519Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those who turn to God from among the Gentiles,G1352G1473G2919G3926G3361G3588G575G1484G1994G1909G231620but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.G235G1989G846G567G575G234G1497G2532G4202G2532G4156G2532G12921For since ancient times, Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, and he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath day."G1063G3475G1537G744G1074G2192G2596G4172G2784G846G314G1722G4864G2596G3956G452122Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.G5119G1380G652G2532G4245G4862G3650G1577G3992G1586G435G1537G846G1519G490G4862G3972G2532G921G2455G1941G923G2532G4609G2233G435G1722G8023They wrote this letter to be delivered by them: From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers from among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.G1125G1223G5495G846G3592G652G2532G4245G2532G80G5463G80G3588G1537G1484G2596G490G2532G4947G2532G279124Because we have heard that some to whom we gave no authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,G1894G191G3754G5100G1831G1537G2257G5015G5209G3056G384G5216G5590G3004G4059G2532G5083G3551G3739G1291G3756G129125we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,G1380G2254G1096G3661G3992G1586G435G4314G5209G4862G2257G27G921G2532G397226who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.G444G3860G846G5590G5228G3686G2257G2962G2424G554727Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.G649G3767G2455G2532G4609G846G518G2532G518G846G1223G305628For it was the Holy Spirit's decision— and ours— to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things:G1063G1380G40G4151G2532G2254G2007G5213G3367G4119G922G4133G5130G187629that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.G567G1494G2532G129G2532G4156G2532G4202G1537G3739G1301G1438G4238G2095G451730Then, being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.G3303G3767G630G2064G1519G490G2532G4863G4128G4863G1929G199231When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.G1161G314G5463G1909G387432Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message.G2455G2532G4609G5607G4396G2532G846G3870G80G1223G4183G3056G2532G199133After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.G1161G4160G5550G630G3326G1515G575G80G4314G65234(none)G1161G1380G4609G1961G847G196135But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord.G3972G1161G2532G921G1304G1722G490G1321G2532G2097G3056G2962G3326G4183G2087G253236After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we have preached the message of the Lord, and see how they're doing."G1161G5100G2250G3326G3972G2036G4314G921G1211G1994G1980G2257G80G2596G3956G4172G1722G3739G2605G3056G2962G4459G219237Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.G1161G921G1011G4838G2491G2564G313838But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.G1161G3972G515G3361G515G4838G5126G4838G3588G868G575G846G575G3828G2532G4905G3361G846G1519G204139There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.G3767G3948G1096G3948G846G5620G673G575G240G5037G921G3880G3138G1602G1519G295440Then Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers.G1161G3972G1951G4609G1831G3860G5259G80G5485G231641He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.G1161G1330G4947G2532G2791G1991G1577