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The
Council at Jerusalem |
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Acts 15:1
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Some men came down from Judea and began teaching
the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you
cannot be saved." |
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Acts 15:2
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And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension
and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some
others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning
this issue. |
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Acts 15:3
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Therefore, being sent on their way by the church,
they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the
conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. |
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Acts 15:4
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When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received
by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God
had done with them. |
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Acts 15:5
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But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had
believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them
to observe the Law of Moses." |
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Acts 15:6
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The apostles and the elders came together to
look into this matter. |
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Acts 15:7
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After there had been much debate, Peter stood
up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice
among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and
believe. |
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Acts 15:8
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"And God, who knows the heart, testified to
them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; |
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Acts 15:9
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and He made no distinction between us and them,
cleansing their hearts by faith. |
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Acts 15:10
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"Now therefore why do you put God to the test
by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor
we have been able to bear? |
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Acts 15:11
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"But we believe that we are saved through the
grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." |
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Acts 15:12
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All the people kept silent, and they were listening
to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done
through them among the Gentiles. |
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James's Judgment |
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Acts 15:13
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After they had stopped speaking, James answered,
saying, "Brethren, listen to me. |
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Acts 15:14
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"Simeon has related how God first concerned
Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. |
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Acts 15:15
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"With this the words of the Prophets agree,
just as it is written, |
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Acts 15:16
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'AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL
REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,
AND I WILL RESTORE IT, |
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Acts 15:17
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SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,
AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,' |
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Acts 15:18
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SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN
FROM LONG AGO. |
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Acts 15:19
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"Therefore it is my judgment that we do not
trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, |
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Acts 15:20
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but that we write to them that they abstain
from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled
and from blood. |
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Acts 15:21
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"For Moses from ancient generations has in every
city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath." |
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Acts 15:22
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Then it seemed good to the apostles and the
elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the
brethren, |
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Acts 15:23
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and they sent this letter by them, "The apostles
and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia
who are from the Gentiles, greetings. |
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Acts 15:24
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"Since we have heard that some of our number
to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling
your souls, |
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Acts 15:25
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it seemed good to us, having become of one mind,
to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, |
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Acts 15:26
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men who have risked their lives for the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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Acts 15:27
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"Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who
themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. |
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Acts 15:28
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"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to
us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: |
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Acts 15:29
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that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols
and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves
free from such things, you will do well. Farewell." |
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Acts 15:30
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So when they were sent away, they went down
to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the
letter. |
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Acts 15:31
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When they had read it, they rejoiced because
of its encouragement. |
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Acts 15:32
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Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves,
encouraged and strengthened the brethren with a lengthy message. |
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Acts 15:33
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After they had spent time there, they were sent
away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out. |
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Acts 15:34
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[But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.]
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Acts 15:35
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But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching
and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord. |
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Second Missionary Journey |
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Acts 15:36
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After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let
us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word
of the Lord, and see how they are." |
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Acts 15:37
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Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along
with them also. |
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Acts 15:38
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But Paul kept insisting that they should not
take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to
the work. |
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Acts 15:39
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And there occurred such a sharp disagreement
that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed
away to Cyprus. |
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Acts 15:40
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But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed
by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. |
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Acts 15:41
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And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia,
strengthening the churches. |
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