a Or,saved

14

seeing that he had faith to be "made whole, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked. "And when the multitudes saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. "And they called Barnabas, 'Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. "And the priest of 'Jupiter whose temple was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent Gr. Zeus. their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out "and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: "who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways. "And yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and Hermes gladness. 18And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.

© Gr.

4Or,

nature

19 But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. "But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. "And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, "confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the

faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. 23And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. "And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. 25And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. "And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and how that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28 And they tarried no little time with the disciples.

XV.

And certain men came down from Judæa

and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and cer tain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered

together to consider of this matter. And when Gr. from there had been much questioning, Peter rose up,

early

days.

Or, who

doeth these

things which

were

known

and said unto them,

Brethren, ye know how that "a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 1oNow therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? "But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.

12 And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying,

Brethren, hearken unto me: "Symeon hath rehearsed how first God did visit 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,

16

After these things I will return,

And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen;

And I will build again the ruins thereof,

And I will set it up:

That the residue of men may seek after the
Lord,

And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is
called,

Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world. 19Wherefore my judgement is, that we trouble

◄ Or,

them

not them which from among the Gentiles turn to God; but that we write unto them, that they ab- join stain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. "For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

authorities omit

went out.

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elder brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: "Forasmuch as we have heard that certain 'which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting › Some your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; ancient 25it seemed good unto us, having come to one ac- which cord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; "that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.

30 So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. "And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the 'con- Ore solation. And Judas and Silas, being themselves

32

hortation

also prophets, "exhorted the brethren with many forted words, and confirmed them. 33And after they had

a Or, com

spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth. But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare. "And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. "And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

XVI.

The

And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess which believed; but his father was a Greek. same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those essert, parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek. And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, which good unto had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Some

ancient authori

with vari- 4

ations,

ver. 34 But it seemed

Silas to

abide

there.