Study Desk

And 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.

When 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.

And 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.

And 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.

But 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.

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

And 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.

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

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

Now 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?

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

Then 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.

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

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visite the Gentiles to take out of them a people for his Name.

And to this agree the words of the Prophets, as it is written,

After 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:

That 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.

Knowen vnto God are all his workes fro the beginning of the world.

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

But that wee write vnto them, that they abstaine from pollutions of Idoles, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

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