had prayed with of Christ, whose faith they had received, to defend fasting, they com- them, and to increase all good things in them.

mended them to the

Lord, on whom they believed.

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

26 And thence sail

26. And they came back to Antioch, from whence

ed to Antioch, from it was that they were sent forth (ch. xiii. 3.) on this whence they had and that with solemn prayer and fasting, for been recommended voyage, to the grace of God the preaching of the gospel (see ver. 3, and note [d] for the work which Heb. xiii.) to these so many cities, of which they they fulfilled. had now made an end, and so returned.

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them,

k and how he had k and that it had pleased God that by their preachopened the door of ing to the Jews in the Gentile cities many of the faith unto the Gen- Gentiles had received Christianity.

tiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

CHAP. XV.

AND certain men 1. And some converted or Christian Jews, which which came down though they believed in Christ yet thought themfrom Judæa taught selves still bound to the observation of the whole the brethren, and said, Except ye be Mosaical law, told those of the Gentile proselytes, circumcised after the ver. 19, that were converted to the faith of Christ manner of Moses, also, (of whom some, that is, the proselytes of the gates, were not wont to be circumcised, but only subscribed to the seven precepts of the sons of Noah,) 2 When therefore that they must be complete proselytes of the Jews, Paul and Barnabas submit to their whole law, and so be circumcised, &c., had no small dissen- or else they could not be saved.

ye cannot be saved.

with them, they de

sion and disputation 2. And Paul and Barnabas opposed these; and the termined that Paul matter being turned into a question, and that undeand Barnabas, and cidable among themselves, neither yielding to the certain other of them, other, it was necessary to appeal to Jerusalem, under should go up to Je- which, as the prime metropolis, the Jews of all Syria, apostles and elders and so Antioch, were; and accordingly the church about this question. governors of Antioch determined to send Paul and

rusalem unto the

up

Barnabas, and some others with them, to the bishop of Jerusalem, and the apostles that were there, and the other bishops of Judæa (see note [b] ch. xi.) belonging to that metropolis, to advise whether the 3 And being 'brought on their Gentiles that received the faith, and lived among the way by the church, Jewish believers, should be bound to be circumcised they passed through or no.

Phenice and Sama- 3. And the church bore the charges of their journey ria, declaring the conversion of the (see note [a] 1 Cor. xvi.); and as they went through Gentiles: and they Phoenice and Samaria, they told them the great news caused great joy un- that occasioned this their journey, the coming in of to all the brethren. the Gentiles to the faith: and all the Christians were 4 And when they were come to Jeru- very much joyed at it.

with them.

of the Pharisees

salem, they were re- 4, 5. And when they came to Jerusalem they were ceived of the church, kindly received by the Christians there, and partiand of the apostles cularly by James, the brother of the Lord, then bishop and elders, and they of Jerusalem, and thence called an apostle (see note declared all things that God had done [6] on the title of the Epistle of James, and note [a] 1 Cor. xv.) by Peter, ver. 7, and by John, Gal. ii. 9, 5 But there rose remaining there at that time, and by all the bishops up certain of the sect of Judæa, (see note [b] ch. xi.,) and began their meswhich believed, saysage by telling them also what success God had given ing, That it was to their preaching among the Gentiles, and how that needful to circum- when the Gentiles, proselytes, or others, uncircumcise them, and to cised, came in to the faith, some Judaizing Christians, command them to of the sect of the Pharisees, said, that such of the Gentiles as came in to the faith of Christ were to be 6 And the apo- obliged to receive circumcision, and to observe, not stles and elders came only the seven precepts of the sons of Noah, but also together for to con- all the ceremonies of the whole Judaical law. sider of this matter.

keep the law of Mo

ses.

7 And when there 6. Hereupon James the bishop of Jerusalem, and had been much dis- Peter, and John, the apostles (see note [a] 1 Cor. xv., puting, Peter rose note [g] Rev. iv., and note [e] Gal. ii.) and the bishops up, and said unto of Judæa, met in council to deliberate and debate them, Men and bre- about this difficulty.

thren, ye know how

that a good while a

a some uncircumcised proselytes, Cornelius and his go God made choice family, Acts x, should have the gospel preached to among us, that "the them, and accordingly had, and received the faith, Gentiles by my and never were circumcised.

mouth should hear

the word of the gos8. And God, that knew the sincerity of their pel, and believe. hearts, testified that they were believers, such as were 8 And God, which acceptable to him (though they were not circumcised) knoweth the hearts, and fit to be baptized, giving them that great witness bare them witness, from heaven, sending down the Holy Ghost upon giving them the Holy as he them in like manner as he was before sent down upon the apostles, Acts x. 44.

Ghost, even did unto us;

1 set forth, προπεμφθέντες.

9 And put no dif- 9. And dealt with them just as with us, making ference between us no difference between us and them, but by the Chrisand them, purifying tian doctrine, by them received and entertained, did their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore the same thing on them (far more effectually) for why tempt ye God, which all the Jewish rites (particularly circumcision) 2to put a yoke upon were first ordained, that is, took them off from all the neck of the dis- their heathen sins.

ciples, which neither

were able to bear?

as

do

10. This one evidence is sufficient to conclude this

our fathers nor we whole debate; for is not the thing already determined II But we believe by that one act of God's giving the Holy Ghost to the that through the Gentiles? That sure makes it evident that there is grace of the Lord Je- no difference betwixt us Jews and them. Why then sus Christ we shall be saved, even ye press that which is so contrary to the will of they. God? why do ye refuse to believe that which is so 12 ¶ Then all the testified to be his will, and so in effect require more multitude kept si- arguments of this, as of a matter still uncertain, and lence, and gave au- thereby tempt God, (see note [c] Matt. iv.,) and think and Paul, declaring to impose upon Christians of the nations the perwhat miracles and formance of the whole Mosaical law, which belonged wonders God had not to them, and which we Jews were never able to wrought among the perform so as to be justified thereby?

dience to Barnabas

Gentiles by them.

13 And after they 11. It is by the gospel (see ch. xi. 23.) that we had held their peace, expect justification and salvation, through faith and James answered,say- obedience to Christ, and not by Mosaical performing, Men and bre- ances: and so they, if they believe, have the same thren, hearken un- way to salvation as we.

to me:

14 Simeon hath de12. After this, the next thing was, that Paul and clared how God at Barnabas declared in like manner what miracles God the first did [a]visit had enabled them also to do in the converting of the the Gentiles, to take Gentiles, which was another argument and testimony out of them a people from heaven, that no difference was to be

for his name.

written,

16 After this I will

Jews and Gentiles.

put

between

15 And to this agree the words of the 13. And next after them James the Just, the broprophets; as it is ther of the Lord, the then bishop of Hierusalem, began to speak, saying, Men and brethrenreturn, and will build 14. Peter hath sufficiently demonstrated that it was again the tabernacle the will of God (in that case of Cornelius) that the of David, which is Gentiles should without any scruple have the gospel fallen down; and I preached to them, and be baptized, and received into will build again the the church.

ruins thereof, and I

will set it up:

15. And this is agreeable to what had been fore17 That the residue told by the old prophets; for so, Amos ix. 11. they are of men might seek the words of God: After this

after the Lord, and 16, 17. In the latter days (the age of the Messias all the Gentiles, up- wherein now we are) I will rebuild me a church on whom my name is called, saith the among the Jews, those few of them who shall believe

2 in putting. 3 looked down to take out of the Gentiles, or, was pleased to take.

Lord, who doeth all in Christ, (see note [a] Heb. viii.,) who, together with these things. the believing Gentiles, shall become my people, saith the Lord Jehovah, whose wonderful work this is, to 18 Known unto God make the Jews and Gentiles one people, and who doth are all his works very well like that Jews and Gentiles should be thus from the beginning united, though formerly he had made some difference between them.

of the world.

ed to God:

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we 18. This, though it were not brought to pass actutrouble not them, ally till these latter days, was yet foreseen and prewhich from among determined by God long ago, and accordingly thus the Gentiles are turn- foretold through revelation from God by that prophet. 20 But that we 19, 20. Therefore my conclusion and determination write unto them, that is, that we should not require or force them to be they abstain from circumcised who from Gentiles turn Christians, but pollutions of idols, content ourselves that they receive the precepts of the and from fornication, and from things sons of Noah only, as proselytes of the gates are wont strangled, and from to do.

blood.5

6

syna

21. Nor need we Jews to fear that this will bring 21 For Moses of a contempt upon Moses or the law of the Jews, for old time hath in e- the contrary appears by the Christian practice, even very city them that preach him, being where these proselytes of the Gentiles are; there the read in the books of Moses, as hath been customary from of old, gogues every sab- are still continued among them to be read aloud in bath day. the synagogue every Saturday, (to which the council 22 Then pleased it of Laodicea did after add the reading of a chapter in the apostles and eld- the New Testament,) to signify their respect to the ers, with the whole Mosaical law, and their not offering it contempt chosen men of their among the proselytes, though they did not require own company to An- them to be circumcised.

church, to send

Judas surnamed

tioch with Paul and 22. The business being thus decided by the acquiBarnabas; namely; escing of all in this sentence of the bishop of JerusaBarsabas, and Silas, lem, the next thing was, that James and Peter and * chief men among John, and the bishops of Judæa, with the general the brethren: consent and approbation of the whole church of Jeru23 And they wrote salem, (see note [b] ch. vi.,) thought fit to choose some letters by them after this manner; The bishops of Judæa, that were present at the council, apostles and elders to go along with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch; and and brethren send the persons pitched on were Judas and Silas, bishops greeting unto the of several churches: (see note [e])

brethren which are

of the Gentiles in 23. And they put their decree into form of an Antioch and Syria epistle, in these words, The apostles &c., that is, The bishop of Jerusalem, and Peter and John the apostles,

and Cilicia:

4 Or, is his work: for the King's MS. and the ancient Greek and Latin read, yvwordv tŵ Kupių Tò épуov avтoû. 5 Or, whatsoever they would not have done to themselves, and do not to others for the ancient Greek and Latin MS. and many other copies here add, κal dσα μh θέλουσιν ἑαυτοῖς γενέσθαι, ἑτέροις μὴ ποιεῖτε : and so ver. 29. 6 from the ancient times, k γενεῶν ἀρχαίων. 7 having chosen men out of themselves to send, έκλεξαμένους ἄνδρας ἐξ αὐτῶν πέμψαι : so ver. 25. 8 governors, ἡγουμένους.

out from us have

and the bishops of Judæa, and the whole society of Christians (see note [b] ch. vi.), salute the church of the Gentiles (see note on Rev. xi. 6.) which is in Antioch the metropolis, and in Syria, and Cilicia, which retain immediately to it, and ultimately to Jerusalem: (see ver. 2.)

24 Forasmuch as 24. When we received advertisement that some we have heard, that of the Judaizing Christians which went from hence, certain which went ver. 1, endeavoured to subvert you, and to carry you troubled you with away to a groundless new doctrine, of the necessity words, "[b]subvert- of all Christians being circumcised, they having no ing your souls, say- manner of commissions or instructions from us to do ing, Ye must be cir- so:

cumcised, and keep the law to whom we gave no such commandment :

25 It seemed good

cord, to send chosen

25. We decreed in council, and resolved to send a couple of our own bishops to accompany those two which came from you, Barnabas and Paul,

26. Persons with which we have little reason to unto us, being as- find any fault in what they have asserted in this matter sembled with one ac- of difference, but to give them our testimony that men unto you with they have in preaching the gospel behaved themour beloved Barna- selves with all sincerity and uprightness, and run the bas and Paul, hazard of their lives for the gospel's sake, and for the 26 Men that have service of Christ.

10hazarded their lives

11

for the name of our 27. We have sent, I say, with them Judas and Lord Jesus Christ. Silas, on purpose that they might tell you by word of 27 We have sent mouth more at large what here we write more briefly. therefore Judas and 28. Viz., that we, the bishop of Jerusalem, to Silas, who [c] shall which, as the prime metropolis, all Syria and Analso tell you the same tioch doth belong, together with Peter and John, the things by mouth. 28 For it seemed apostles here abiding, and the bishops of Judæa, all good to the Holy together in council, having prayed to God to send his Ghost, and to us, holy Spirit to abide among us, and to lead us into all to lay upon you truth, have upon mature deliberation determined that the Gentile Christians shall not be obliged to circumcision or other Judaical observances, (ordinarily required of all that will be Jewish proselytes, or enter into the Mosaical covenant,) or to any more than 29 [d]That ye ab- those few things that have among the Jews been restain from meats of- quired of all proselytes of the gates, (that is, of all fered to idols, and the Gentiles that were in any wise permitted to come from blood, and from things strangled, and into their temple to worship God,)

no greater burden

than these necessary things;

from fornication: 29. Viz., to observe the seven precepts of the sons 12 from which 13 if of Adam and Noah; which sort of precepts if you ob

9 removing your minds. 10 ventured their lives to all temptation: for the Greek and Latin MS. reads, παραδεδωκόσι τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν . · εἰς πάντα πειρασμόν. burden be laid on you, μηδὲν πλέον ἐπιτίθεσθαι ὑμῖν βάρος. diaτпроûvтes: see note [d].

12 see ver. 20.

11 that no more 13 keeping,