Acts 15

1 AND certain^a men which came down from Judea taught the ^bbrethren, and said, ^cExcept ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When^d therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they¹ determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem, unto ^ethe apostles and elders, about this question.Cited in WCF 31.1, 31.2

3 And being ^gbrought on their way² by the church, they passed through ^hPhenice and Samaria, ⁱdeclaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused ^jgreat joy unto all the brethren.³

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.Cited in WCF 31.1, 31.2

5 ¶ But there rose up certain⁴ 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^k the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.Cited in WCF 31.1

7 ¶ ^lAnd when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men¹ 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.Cited in WLC 119

8 And God, ⁿwhich knoweth the hearts, ^obare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And ^pput no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.Cited in WLC 119

10 Now therefore why tempt⁵ ye God, ^qto put a yoke⁶ upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?Cited in WCF 20.1

11 But we believe ^rthat through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.⁷Cited in WLC 72 · WCF 7.6, 14.2, 20.1

12 ¶ Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, ^sdeclaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 ¶ And ^tafter they had held their peace, James^u answered, saying, ^vMen and brethren, hearken unto me:⁸

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first ^xdid visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.Cited in WLC 6, 45

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,Cited in WLC 6, 45 · WCF 1.8, 1.9, 31.3

16 After^y 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:Cited in WLC 45

17 That^z 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^a unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.Cited in WLC 6 · WCF 2.2, 3.2, 5.1

19 Wherefore my sentence is, ^bthat we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles ^care turned to God:Cited in WCF 31.3

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from ^dpollutions of idols,⁹ and from ^efornication,¹ and from ^gthings strangled,² and from blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being ^hread in the synagogues every sabbath-day.Cited in WLC 108 · WCF 21.5

22 ¶ Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the ⁱwhole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed ³Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:⁴Cited in WCF 31.2

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles, and elders, and ⁵brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia:Cited in WCF 31.2

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that ^jcertain 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:Cited in WCF 31.3

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled ^kwith one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved ^lBarnabas and Paul,Cited in WCF 31.2

26 Men that have ⁿhazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and ^oSilas, who shall also tell you the same things by⁶mouth.Cited in WCF 31.3

28 For it seemed good ^pto the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater ^qburden than these necessary things:⁷Cited in WCF 31.3

29 That^r ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye ^skeep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.Cited in WCF 31.3

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:Cited in WCF 31.3

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the ⁸consolation.⁹Cited in WCF 31.3

32 And Judas and Silas, being ^tprophets¹ also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and ^uconfirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were ^vlet go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas ^xcontinued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 ¶ And some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, ^yLet 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 ^zJohn, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, ^awho departed² from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And ^bthe contention was so sharp³ between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto ^cCyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being^d recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.⁴

41 And he went ^ethrough Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.