The Concordant Literal New Testament

Acts of the Apostles

The Concordant Version

The King James Version

Chapter 15 (CV)

¹ And some, coming down from Judea, taught the brethren that, "If you should not be circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can not be saved."
² Now as Paul and Barnabas come to have no slight commotion and questioning with them, they prescribe that Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them are to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this question.
³ They indeed, then, being sent forward by the ecclesia, passed through Phoenicia as well as Samaria, detailing the turning about of the nations. And they caused great joy to all the brethren.
⁴ Now coming along into Jerusalem, they were received by the ecclesia and the apostles and the elders. Besides, they inform them of whatever God does with them.
⁵ Yet some from the sect of the Pharisees who have believed rise up, saying that they must be circumcised, besides charging them to keep the law of Moses.
⁶ Now the apostles and the elders were gathered to see about this matter.
⁷ Now, there coming to be much questioning, rising, Peter said to them, "Men! Brethren! You are versed in the fact that from the days at the beginning God chooses among you, that through my mouth the nations are to hear the word of the evangel and believe.
⁸ And God, the Knower of hearts, testifies to them, giving the holy spirit according as to us also,
⁹ and in nothing discriminates between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
¹⁰ Why, then, are you now trying God, by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we are strong enough to bear?
¹¹ But through the grace of the Lord Jesus we are believing, to be saved in a manner even as they."
¹² Now the entire multitude hushes, and they heard Barnabas and Paul unfolding whatever signs and miracles God does among the nations through them.
¹³ Now after they hush, James answered saying, "Men! Brethren! Hear me!
¹⁴ Simon unfolds how God first visits the nations, to obtain out of them a people for His name.
¹⁵ And with this agree the words of the prophets, according as it is written,
¹⁶ After these things I will turn back, 'And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen... And its overturned structure will I rebuild, And I will re-erect it...
¹⁷ So that those left of mankind should be seeking out the Lord, And all the nations, on them over whom My name is invoked, Is saying the Lord, Who is doing these things.'
¹⁸ Known from the eon to the Lord is His work.
¹⁹ "Wherefore I decide not to be harassing those from the nations who are turning back to God,
²⁰ but to write an epistle to them to be abstaining from ceremonial pollution with idols, and prostitution, and what is strangled, and blood.
²¹ For Moses, from ancient generations, city by city, has those who are heralding him, being read on every sabbath in the synagogues."
²² Then it seems good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole ecclesia, choosing men from among them, to send to Antioch, together with Paul and Barnabas, Judas, called Bar-Sabbas, and Silas, leading men from among the brethren.
²³ writing through their hand as follows: "The apostles and the elders and the brethren, to the brethren at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, out of the nations: Rejoice!
²⁴ "Since, in fact, we hear that some coming out from us disturb you with words, dismantling your souls, whom we gave no assignment,
²⁵ it seems good to us, in coming to be of one accord, choosing men, to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
²⁶ men who give up their souls for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
²⁷ We have, then, commissioned Judas and Silas, and they are reporting the same by word.
²⁸ For it seems good to the holy spirit and to us in nothing to be placing one more burden on you save these essentials:
²⁹ to be abstaining from idol sacrifices, and blood, and what is strangled and prostitution; from which, carefully keeping yourselves, you will be well engaged. Farewell!"
³⁰ They indeed, then, being dismissed, came down to Antioch, and gathering the multitude, hand them the epistle.
³¹ Now, reading it, they rejoiced at the consolation.
³² Both Judas and Silas, they also being prophets, by many a word entreat and establish the brethren.
³³ Now, after spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to those who commission them.
³⁴ (no verse ³⁴)
³⁵ Yet Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and bringing the evangel of the word of the Lord, with many others also.
³⁶ Now, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "By all means, turning back, we should be visiting the brethren at every city in which we announce the word of the Lord,
³⁷ to see how they are faring." Now Barnabas intended to take along with them John also, who is called Mark.
³⁸ Yet Paul counted the man who withdraws from them from Pamphylia and comes not with them to the work -- this man not worthy to take along.
³⁹ Now they become so incensed as to recoil from one another. Besides, Barnabas, taking Mark along, sails off to Cyprus.
⁴⁰ Now Paul, singling out Silas, came away, being given over to the grace of the Lord by the brethren.
⁴¹ Now he passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing the ecclesias.

Chapter 15 (KJV)

¹ And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
² 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 unto the apostles and elders about this question.
³ 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 unto all the brethren.
⁴ 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.
⁵ 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.
⁶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
⁷ And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye 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.
⁸ And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
⁹ And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
¹⁰ Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
¹¹ But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
¹² Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
¹³ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
¹⁴ Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
¹⁶ After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
¹⁷ That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
¹⁸ Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
¹⁹ Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
²⁰ But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
²¹ For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
²² 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:
²³ And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
²⁴ Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
²⁵ It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
²⁶ Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
²⁷ We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
²⁹ That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
³⁰ So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
³¹ Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
³² And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
³³ And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
³⁴ Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
³⁵ Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
³⁶ And some days after Paul said unto 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.
³⁷ And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
³⁸ But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
³⁹ And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
⁴⁰ And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

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