7:
And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto
them, Men 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. |
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8: And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the
Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; |
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9: And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by
faith. |
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10: Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the
disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? |
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11: But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved, even as they. |
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12: Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas
and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles
by them. |
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13: And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and
brethren, hearken unto me: |
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14: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to
take out of them a people for his name. |
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15: And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
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16: After 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: |
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17: That 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. |
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18: Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
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19: Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among
the Gentiles are turned to God: |
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20: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of
idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. |
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21: For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being
read in the synagogues every sabbath day. |
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22: Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to
send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely,
Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: |
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23: And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and
elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in
Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: |
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24: Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain 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: |
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25: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send
chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, |
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26: Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. |
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27: We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the
same things by mouth. |
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28: For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no
greater burden than these necessary things; |
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29: That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from
things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye
shall do well. Fare ye well. |
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30: So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had
gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: |
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31: Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
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32: And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the
brethren with many words, and confirmed them. |
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33: And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace
from the brethren unto the apostles. |
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34: Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
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35: Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching
the word of the Lord, with many others also. |
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36: And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and
visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord,
and see how they do. |
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37: And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was
Mark. |
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38: But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from
them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. |
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39: And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed
asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
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40: And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren
unto the grace of God. |
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41: And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. |