Twentieth Century [1904], THE TWENTIETH CENTURY NEW TESTAMENT A TRANSLATION INTO MODERN ENGLISH Made from the Original Greek (Westcott & Hort's Text) (The Fleming H. Revell Company, NEW YORK & CHICAGO) [word count] [B14200].
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note
1 But certain persons came down from Judaea,
and began to teach the Brethren that, unless
they were circumcised, in accordance with the
custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved.
2 This
gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between
Paul and Barnabas and these men, and it was therefore settled
that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go
up to Jerusalem, to consult the Apostles and Officers of the
Church about the matter under discussion.
3 The Church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they
made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the
story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all
the Brethren.
4 On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were
welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the
Officers, and gave an account of all that God had helped them
to do. ⪆⪆
5 Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who
had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared
that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them
to observe the Law of Moses.
6 The Apostles and the Officers of the Church held a meeting
to consider this question. ⪆⪆
7 After much discussion, Peter
rose and said:
“You, my Brothers, know well that long ago God singled
me out—that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the
Message of the Good News, and become believers in Christ.
8 Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance
of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as
he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between them and
us, when he purified their hearts by their faith.
10 Why,
then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of
these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were
-- --
able to bear?
11 No, it is through the loving-kindness of the
Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been
saved.”
12 Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as they listened
to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account of all the
signs and wonders which God had shown among the Gentiles
through them. ⪆⪆
13 After they had finished speaking, James
addressed the Council.
14 “Brothers,” he began, “hear what I have to say. Simon
has described the manner in which God first visited the
Gentiles, in order to take from among them a people to bear
his Name.
15 And that is in harmony with the words of the
Prophets, where they say—
16
‘“After this I will return;
And I will rebuild the House of David which has fallen—
Its very ruins I will rebuild,
And will set it up once more;
17
That so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord—
Even all the Gentiles on whom my Name has been bestowed,”
18
Says the Lord, as he does these things, foreknown from of old.’ note
19 In my judgement, therefore, we should not add to the
difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,
20 but we
should write to them to abstain from food that has been
polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating
the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.
21 For in
every town, for generations past, there have been those who
preach Moses, read as he is in the Synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 It was then decided by the Apostles and the Officers, with the
assent of the whole Church, to choose some of their number,
and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those
chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were
leading men among the Brethren.
23 They were bearers of the
following letter—
‘The Apostles, and the Brothers who are the Officers
of the Church, send their greetings to the Brethren of
Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
24 As we had heard that some of our number had upset
you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds—
25 without instructions from us—we met and decided to
choose certain men and send them to you with our
dear brothers Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have sacrificed
themselves for the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
27 We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and
they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now
writing.
28 We have, therefore, decided, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden
-- --
29 upon you beyond these necessary conditions—that you
abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from
eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from
impurity. If you guard yourselves against such
things, it will be well with you. ⪆⪆Farewell.’
30 So the bearers of this letter were sent on their way, and
went down to Antioch. There they called a meeting of all the
Brethren,
31 and delivered the letter, the reading of which caused
great rejoicing by its encouraging contents.
32 Judas and Silas,
who were themselves Prophets, further encouraged the
Brethren by many an address, and strengthened their faith.
33 After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from
the Brethren, and returned to those who had sent them.
35 Paul and Barnabas, however, remained in Antioch, where
they taught and, with the help of many others, told the Good
News of the Lord's Message.
note
36 Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas:
“Let us go back, and visit the Brethren in
every town in which we have told the Lord's
Message, and see how they are prospering.”
note
37 Barnabas wished to take with them John,
whose other name was Mark;
38 but Paul felt
that they ought not to take with them the
man who had deserted them in Pamphylia, and
had not gone on with them to their work.
39 This caused such
unpleasant feeling between them that they parted, Barnabas
taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus,
40 while Paul chose Silas
for his companion and, after he had been committed by the
Brethren to the gracious care of the Lord, started on his
journey and went through Syria and Cilicia,
41 strengthening the
Churches in the Faith.
Twentieth Century [1904], THE TWENTIETH CENTURY NEW TESTAMENT A TRANSLATION INTO MODERN ENGLISH Made from the Original Greek (Westcott & Hort's Text) (The Fleming H. Revell Company, NEW YORK & CHICAGO) [word count] [B14200].
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