Then some men came down from - Jude -a (and) were teaching the brothers - , “ Unless ... you are circumcised according to the custom - of Moses , vvv you cannot be saved. ”
And after ... engaging - - - - - vvv (these men) - vvv in sharp debate , Paul and Barnabas were appointed , along with some other ( believers ) ... , to go up to Jerusalem to (see) the apostles and elders about this - question.
Sent on their way - - by the church , they passed through - - Phoenicia and Samaria , recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
(On) their arrival in Jerusalem , they were welcomed by the church and - apostles and - elders , (to whom) they reported all that - God had done through them.
But some - believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up (and) declared - , “ (The Gentiles) must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses. ”
(So) the apostles and - elders met to look into ... this - matter.
- After much discussion , Peter - got up (and) said to them , vvv “ Brothers , you know that in (the) early days - God made a choice among you (that) the Gentiles would hear from my - lips the message of the gospel and believe.
And God , who knows the heart , showed His approval by giving the - Holy Spirit to them , just as (He did) to us.
- vvv He made no distinction between - us and them , (for) He cleansed their - hearts by faith.
Now then , why do you test - God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our - fathers have been able to bear ?
On the contrary , we believe (it is) through the grace of (the) Lord Jesus (that) we are saved , vvv vvv just as they (are). ”
- The whole assembly fell silent (as they) listened to Barnabas and Paul describing (the) signs and wonders - God had done among the Gentiles through them.
- When - they had finished speaking , James - declared - , “ vvv Brothers , listen to me !
Simon has told us how - God first visited (the Gentiles) to take from (them) a people (to be) His (own).
- The words of the prophets agree with this , as it is written :
‘ After (this) I will return and rebuild - - the fallen tent of David. - - Its ruins I will rebuild , and I will restore it ... ,
so that the remnant - of men vvv may seek the Lord , and all the Gentiles - who are called by My - name - - , says (the) Lord who does these things
(that) have been known for ages.’
(It is) my judgment , therefore , vvv that we should not cause trouble for - - the Gentiles (who) are turning to - God.
Instead , we should write ( and tell) them - to abstain from ( food ) polluted - by idols , (from) - sexual immorality , (from) the meat of strangled animals , and from blood.
For Moses has - been proclaimed - in every city from ancient times (and) is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath. ”
Then the apostles and - elders , with the whole church , decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with - Paul and Barnabas. (They chose) Judas - called Barsabbas and Silas , (two) leaders ... among the brothers ,
(and sent them with) vvv vvv this letter : The apostles and the elders , (your) brothers , To the brothers - among (the) Gentiles in - Antioch , - Syria , and Cilicia : Greetings.
It has come to our attention ... that some went out from us vvv vvv without our authorization (and) unsettled you , troubling your - minds by what (they) said.
(So) we all agreed ... ... ... to choose men to send to you along with our - beloved Barnabas and Paul ,
men who have risked their - lives for the name of our - Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas - - to tell you vvv (in person) the same things (we are writing).
- It seemed good to the - Holy Spirit and to us not vvv to burden you (with anything) beyond ... these - essential requirements :
(You must) abstain from food sacrificed to idols , - from blood , - from the meat of strangled animals , and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid ... ... these things. Farewell.
So (the men) - were sent off (and) went down to Antioch , (where) they assembled the congregation (and) delivered the letter.
(When) (the people) read (it) , they rejoiced at (its) encouraging message.
- Judas and Silas , (who) themselves were prophets , said much ... ... to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
- After spending some time (there) , they were sent off by the brothers in peace to (return to) those who had sent them.
But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch , along with ... many others , teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
- Some time later Paul said to Barnabas , “ - Let us go back (and) visit the brothers in every town vvv where we proclaimed the word of the Lord , ( to see ) how they are doing. ”
- Barnabas wanted to take - - John - , - (also) called Mark -.
But Paul thought it best not to take him , (because) he had deserted ... them in Pamphylia and vvv had not accompanied them in the work.
vvv Their disagreement was so sharp ... that they parted vvv company. - - Barnabas took - Mark - (and) sailed for Cyprus ,
but Paul chose Silas (and) left , commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
And he traveled through - Syria and - Cilicia , strengthening the churches.