Day 49 of 90

^14:1In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. ^14:2But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and embittered the souls of the Gentiles against the brothers. ^14:3Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ^14:4But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews and part with the apostles. ^14:5When some of both the Gentiles and the Jews, with their rulers, made a violent attempt to mistreat and stone them, ^14:6they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, Derbe, and the surrounding region. ^14:7There they preached the Good News. ^14:8At Lystra a certain man sat, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. ^14:9He was listening to Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes on him and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, ^14:10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet!” He leaped up and walked. ^14:11When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ^14:12They called Barnabas “Jupiter”, and Paul “Mercury”, because he was the chief speaker. ^14:13The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and would have made a sacrifice along with the multitudes. ^14:14But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothes and sprang into the multitude, crying out, ^14:15“Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of the same nature as you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; ^14:16who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. ^14:17Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” ^14:18Even saying these things, they hardly stopped the multitudes from making a sacrifice to them. ^14:19But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ^14:20But as the disciples stood around him, he rose up, and entered into the city. On the next day he went out with Barnabas to Derbe. ^14:21When they had preached the Good News to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ^14:22strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many afflictions we must enter into God’s Kingdom. ^14:23When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed. ^14:24They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ^14:25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ^14:26From there they sailed to Antioch, from where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. ^14:27When they had arrived and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations. ^14:28They stayed there with the disciples for a long time. ^15:1Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.” ^15:2Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. ^15:3They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers. ^15:4When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them. ^15:5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” ^15:6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. ^15:7When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. ^15:8God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. ^15:9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ^15:10Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ^15:11But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.” ^15:12All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. ^15:13After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. ^15:14Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. ^15:15This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written, ^15:16‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up ^15:17that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’ ^15:18“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity. ^15:19Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, ^15:20but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. ^15:21For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” ^15:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers. ^15:23They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. ^15:24Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; ^15:25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ^15:26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ^15:27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. ^15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: ^15:29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.” ^15:30So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. ^15:31When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. ^15:32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. ^15:33After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles. ^{15:34 15:35}But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. ^15:36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” ^15:37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. ^15:38But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. ^15:39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ^15:40but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. ^15:41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.