Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell. They, therefore, being dismissed went to Antioch, and assembling the multitude delivered the epistle. And reading it they rejoiced at the exhortation. And Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers with much argument, and confirmed them. And having staid [some] time, they were dismissed in peace by the brothers to those that sent them. (Added verse not retained in Sawyer) But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of the Lord.


AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear?

Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge,

But Titus who was with me, and was a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised; but on account of false brothers brought in secretly to act as spies against our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, to bring us into servitude, we did not yield to them by subjection, for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.


for as many of you as are baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither servant nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he follows not with us. And Jesus said to him, Forbid him not; for whoever is not against us is for us.

And John spoke to him, saying, Teacher, we saw some one casting out demons in your name, who follows not us, and we forbade him. And Jesus said, Forbid him not; for no one will perform a mighty work in my name, and be able lightly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is for us; read more.
and whoever gives you a cup of water because you are Christ's, truly he shall not lose his reward.

If therefore God gave the gift equally to them and to us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to forbid God? And hearing these things they were silent, and glorified God, saying, Then to the gentiles also has God indeed given the change of mind to life.

AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell. They, therefore, being dismissed went to Antioch, and assembling the multitude delivered the epistle. And reading it they rejoiced at the exhortation.

PAUL, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart to the gospel of God,??2 which he promised by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures,??3 concerning his Son born of the posterity of David as to the flesh, declared to be the Son of God in power as to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead,??esus Christ our Lord,??5 through whom we have received grace and an apostleship for the obedience of the faith in all nations in behalf of his name, among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ,??7 to all who are at Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am a debtor both to the Greeks and the Barbarians, both to the wise and the ignorant; so that as far as depends upon me I am ready also to preach the gospel to those at Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel; for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes, the Jew first and also the Greek.

Wherefore by the works of the law there shall no flesh be justified is his sight, for by the law there is an acknowledgment of sin. BUT now God's righteousness has been made manifest without the law, being testified to by the law and the prophets, but God's righteousness is through the faith of Jesus Christ, in all and upon all that believe. For there is no difference; read more.
for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth [to be] a propitiator through faith in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing by of the errors committed previously in the forbearance of God, to show his righteousness at the present time, that he may be righteous and justify him that is of faith. Where then is the boasting [of the Jew]? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No; but by the law of faith. We conclude then that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law. Is God [a God] of the Jews alone? and not also of the gentiles? Yes, also of the gentiles, since there is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through the [same] faith. Do we then abrogate the law by the faith? By no means; but we establish the law.

Having been justified therefore by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have been introduced into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

For he is our peace, who made both one and broke down the middle wall of partition, the enmity, and abolished by his flesh the law of commandments [consisting] of ordinances, that of the two he might create in himself one new man, making peace, and reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having destroyed the enmity by it. read more.
And he came and preached the good news of peace to you who were far off, and peace to those nigh,

where there are not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, servant, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all. Put on, therefore, as elect and beloved saints of God, hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if any one has a charge against any, as Christ forgave you, so [do] you also, read more.
and in addition to all these [put on] love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for which you have been called in one body; and be thankful.


the enmity, and abolished by his flesh the law of commandments [consisting] of ordinances, that of the two he might create in himself one new man, making peace,


Those who wish to make a fair appearance in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. read more.
And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.

since there is one God who will justify the circumcision by faith and the uncircumcision through the [same] faith.

Is this blessedness then on the circumcision? or also on the uncircumcision? [Also on the uncircumcision.] For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the symbol of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which was in uncircumcision, so that he became the father of all that believe in uncircumcision, that righteousness may also be accounted to them,

Is any one called being circumcised, let him not be uncircumcised; is any one called in uncircumcision, let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping God's commandments.

But Titus who was with me, and was a Greek, was not compelled to be circumcised; but on account of false brothers brought in secretly to act as spies against our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, to bring us into servitude,

Behold, I Paul tell you, that if you are circumcised Christ will not profit you. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is bound to perform the whole law. You have departed from Christ, whoever of you are justified by the law, you have fallen from the grace. read more.
For we wait in spirit for the hope of righteousness, by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love. You ran well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not of him that calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole mass. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will not be of another mind; but he that troubles you shall bear his sin, whoever he is. And I, brothers, if I preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? Then has the offense of the cross ceased.

Wherefore, remember that you were formerly gentiles by birth, called uncircumcision by that called circumcision made in the flesh by the hand,


And the gentiles hearing this rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed;

And those of the circumcision who came with Peter were astonished, that on the gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out;



AND the apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles received the word of God.

And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe.

Be it known to you, therefore, that the salvation of God is sent to the gentiles, and they will hear it.

whom he also called, us not of the Jews only but also of the gentiles,

and that the nations should glorify God for mercy; as it is written, For this cause will I praise thee among nations, and sing to thy name.



AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.


And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, read more.
and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.


And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send help to the brethren living in Judea; which they also did, sending to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell. They, therefore, being dismissed went to Antioch, and assembling the multitude delivered the epistle. And reading it they rejoiced at the exhortation. And Judas and Silas being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers with much argument, and confirmed them. And having staid [some] time, they were dismissed in peace by the brothers to those that sent them. (Added verse not retained in Sawyer) But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of the Lord.



And when he went through the cities he gave them the ordinances to observe which had been determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. Then the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

And from Miletus sending to Ephesus he called for the elders of the church.

Take heed to yourselves, therefore, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his blood. For I know that after my departure grievous wolves will come among you, not sparing the flock, and of yourselves men will arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. read more.
Wherefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not to admonish every one of you with tears. And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with all the sanctified.

And on the following day Paul went with us to James, and all the elders were present.

Let the elders who rule well be accounted worthy of a double compensation, especially those who labor in word and teaching. For the Scripture says, You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes; and, The laborer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, except by two or three witnesses.

For this cause I left you in Crete, that you might regulate things which are deficient, and appoint elders in every city, as I charged you, if any one is blameless, a husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of intemperance or of insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God, not self-indulgent, not soon angry, not given to wine, not contentious, not devoted to base gain, read more.
but a lover of hospitality, kind, sober, just, holy, self-denying, holding firmly the faithful word taught, that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to convince those who contradict.

For by it the ancients obtained a good repute.

if any one is sick among you, let him send for the elders of the church, and let them pray for him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The elders among you I exhort, who am a co-elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed; feed the flock of God which is among you, not by constraint but willingly, not for base gain but of a ready mind, not as having a lordship over God's inheritance but being examples to the flock; read more.
and when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive an unfading crown of glory. Let the younger in like manner be subject to the elder, and do you all be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

THE elder to the elect Curia and her children, whom I love in truth, and not I only but also all who have known the truth,

THE elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.


And the gentiles hearing this rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed;

And those of the circumcision who came with Peter were astonished, that on the gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out;



AND the apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles received the word of God.

And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe.

Be it known to you, therefore, that the salvation of God is sent to the gentiles, and they will hear it.

whom he also called, us not of the Jews only but also of the gentiles,

and that the nations should glorify God for mercy; as it is written, For this cause will I praise thee among nations, and sing to thy name.



for as many of you as are baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither servant nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are of Christ, then are you Abraham's children and heirs according to the promise.

For there is no difference between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord of all is rich to all that call upon him. For every one that calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

BUT now God's righteousness has been made manifest without the law, being testified to by the law and the prophets, but God's righteousness is through the faith of Jesus Christ, in all and upon all that believe. For there is no difference;

And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, read more.
and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith.

For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body being many are one body, so also is Christ; for we have all been baptized with one Spirit in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and have all been made to drink one Spirit.

but now do you put away also all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, vile conversation out of your mouth; lie not one to another; put off the old man with his doings, and put on the new man, renewed in knowledge in the likeness of him that created him, read more.
where there are not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, servant, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.


And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, read more.
and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they.

and disagreeing among themselves they were dismissed by Paul, saying one word; Well did the Holy Spirit speak by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, Go to this people and say, Hearing you shall hear and not understand, and seeing you shall see and not perceive; for the heart of this people has become hard, and they hear imperfectly with their ears, and they have shut their eyes, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I should cure them. read more.
Be it known to you, therefore, that the salvation of God is sent to the gentiles, and they will hear it.

What shall we say then? That nations who did not pursue righteousness attained a righteousness, but the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel who pursued the law of righteousness did not attain to the law of righteousness. For what reason? Because they are not of faith, but as it were of works of the law; for they stumbled at the stone of stumbling, read more.
as it is written; Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.

I SAY then, has God cast away his people? By no means; for I also am an Israelite, of the race of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know you not what the Scripture says in Elijah, how he intercedes with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life. read more.
But what says the response to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So then also at the present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace; but if by grace, no longer by works; for otherwise grace is no longer grace; but if by works, it is no longer grace; for otherwise a work is no longer a work. What then? What Israel seeks, this it did not obtain, but the election obtained; and the rest were hardened,??8 as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear??o this day. And David says, Let their table become a trap and a snare and an offense and a stumbling block to them; let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back always. I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? By no means; but by their fall the nations have salvation to excite them to emulation. But if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of nations, how much more will their fullness be. For I speak to you, gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle of the gentiles, I glorify my ministry, if perhaps I may excite my flesh [race] to emulation and save some of them. For if their falling away is the reconciling of the world, what will their recovery be but life from the dead? And if the first fruit is holy, the mass is also; and if the root is holy, the branches also are. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a partaker of the root and excellence of the olive, boast not against the branches; but if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you. You will say then, The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Well; they were broken off by unbelief, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. See then the goodness and severity of God; towards those that fell, severity, but towards you, the goodness of God, if you continue in goodness, for otherwise you also will be cut off. And they, if they continue not in unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from an olive wild by nature, and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive, how much more shall they according to nature be grafted into their own olive. For I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery; that you may not be wise in your own conceit. For hardness in part has come upon Israel, till the fullness of the gentiles shall come in, and so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, A deliverer shall come from Zion, he shall turn away impiety from Jacob. And this is the promise to them from me, when I take away their sins. As to the gospel, they are enemies on your account, but as to the election, they are beloved on account of the fathers; for the gifts and calling of God are without a change of mind. For as you once disobeyed God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, so also they now have disobeyed that they may obtain mercy by your mercy. For God has concluded all in disobedience that he may have mercy on all.

As Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him a righteousness. Know, therefore, that those of faith, these are children of Abraham. And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, promised before to Abraham, In you shall all the nations be blessed. read more.
Those of faith, therefore, are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them. And it is evident that no one is justified by the law before God, because the just shall live by faith, but the law is not of faith, but he that does these things shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham may come on the nations, in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith.



And on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any one thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He that believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of him shall flow rivers of living water. But he said this of the Spirit which those believing in him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet [given], because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you took and hung on a cross; him has God exalted, a Prince and Saviour at his right hand, to give a change of mind to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things, and also the Holy Spirit which God has given to those that obey him.

And I tell you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you; for every one that asks, receives; and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. And what father is there of you, who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks also for a fish, will for a fish give him a serpent? read more.
or if he asks also for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.

And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us,


for as many of you as are baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither servant nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are of Christ, then are you Abraham's children and heirs according to the promise.

For there is no difference between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord of all is rich to all that call upon him. For every one that calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

BUT now God's righteousness has been made manifest without the law, being testified to by the law and the prophets, but God's righteousness is through the faith of Jesus Christ, in all and upon all that believe. For there is no difference;

And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, read more.
and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith.

For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body being many are one body, so also is Christ; for we have all been baptized with one Spirit in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and have all been made to drink one Spirit.

but now do you put away also all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, vile conversation out of your mouth; lie not one to another; put off the old man with his doings, and put on the new man, renewed in knowledge in the likeness of him that created him, read more.
where there are not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, servant, freeman, but Christ is all things and in all.



AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.


but if by grace, no longer by works; for otherwise grace is no longer grace; but if by works, it is no longer grace; for otherwise a work is no longer a work.

But when I saw that they walked not correctly, according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before all, If you being a Jew live after the manner of the gentiles, and not after the manner of the Jews, why do you compel the gentiles to practise Judaism? For we Jews by race and not sinners of the gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also have believed in Jesus Christ, that we may be justified by faith and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no flesh be justified. read more.
But if seeking to be justified by Christ we are found to be ourselves also sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? By no means. For if I build up again what I have destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For by a law I have died to the law, that I may live to God. I am crucified with Christ; and I no longer live myself, but Christ lives in me; and the present life which I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not reject the grace of God; for if rightousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing.


And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe.


AND the apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles received the word of God. And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, You went in to men that were uncircumcised, and eat with them. read more.
And Peter began and related to them in order, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw a vision in a trance, a vessel like a great sheet descending, let down by the four corners from heaven, and it came to me; and looking into it attentively I perceived and saw the quadrupeds of the earth and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of heaven. And I heard a voice saying to me, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. And I said, By no means, Lord, for nothing common or impure has ever entered into my mouth. And a voice answered from heaven a second time, What God has purified do not you regard common. And this was done thrice, and again all were taken up to heaven. And behold, immediately three men came to the house in which I was, being sent for me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them. And these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the house of the man. And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house standing and saying to him, Send to Joppa and call Simon who is called Peter, who will speak words to you by which you shall be saved and all your house. And when I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them as also on us in the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord how he said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. If therefore God gave the gift equally to them and to us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to forbid God? And hearing these things they were silent, and glorified God, saying, Then to the gentiles also has God indeed given the change of mind to life.

And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. read more.
Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they.


And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, read more.
and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they.

and disagreeing among themselves they were dismissed by Paul, saying one word; Well did the Holy Spirit speak by Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, Go to this people and say, Hearing you shall hear and not understand, and seeing you shall see and not perceive; for the heart of this people has become hard, and they hear imperfectly with their ears, and they have shut their eyes, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I should cure them. read more.
Be it known to you, therefore, that the salvation of God is sent to the gentiles, and they will hear it.

What shall we say then? That nations who did not pursue righteousness attained a righteousness, but the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel who pursued the law of righteousness did not attain to the law of righteousness. For what reason? Because they are not of faith, but as it were of works of the law; for they stumbled at the stone of stumbling, read more.
as it is written; Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he that believes on him shall not be ashamed.

I SAY then, has God cast away his people? By no means; for I also am an Israelite, of the race of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people whom he foreknew. Know you not what the Scripture says in Elijah, how he intercedes with God against Israel? Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have dug down thy altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life. read more.
But what says the response to him? I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. So then also at the present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace; but if by grace, no longer by works; for otherwise grace is no longer grace; but if by works, it is no longer grace; for otherwise a work is no longer a work. What then? What Israel seeks, this it did not obtain, but the election obtained; and the rest were hardened,??8 as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear??o this day. And David says, Let their table become a trap and a snare and an offense and a stumbling block to them; let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and bow down their back always. I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? By no means; but by their fall the nations have salvation to excite them to emulation. But if their fall is the riches of the world, and their diminution the riches of nations, how much more will their fullness be. For I speak to you, gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle of the gentiles, I glorify my ministry, if perhaps I may excite my flesh [race] to emulation and save some of them. For if their falling away is the reconciling of the world, what will their recovery be but life from the dead? And if the first fruit is holy, the mass is also; and if the root is holy, the branches also are. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became a partaker of the root and excellence of the olive, boast not against the branches; but if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root you. You will say then, The branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. Well; they were broken off by unbelief, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear; for if God spared not the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. See then the goodness and severity of God; towards those that fell, severity, but towards you, the goodness of God, if you continue in goodness, for otherwise you also will be cut off. And they, if they continue not in unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again. For if you have been cut from an olive wild by nature, and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive, how much more shall they according to nature be grafted into their own olive. For I wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery; that you may not be wise in your own conceit. For hardness in part has come upon Israel, till the fullness of the gentiles shall come in, and so all Israel shall be saved; as it is written, A deliverer shall come from Zion, he shall turn away impiety from Jacob. And this is the promise to them from me, when I take away their sins. As to the gospel, they are enemies on your account, but as to the election, they are beloved on account of the fathers; for the gifts and calling of God are without a change of mind. For as you once disobeyed God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, so also they now have disobeyed that they may obtain mercy by your mercy. For God has concluded all in disobedience that he may have mercy on all.

As Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him a righteousness. Know, therefore, that those of faith, these are children of Abraham. And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, promised before to Abraham, In you shall all the nations be blessed. read more.
Those of faith, therefore, are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things written in the book of the law to do them. And it is evident that no one is justified by the law before God, because the just shall live by faith, but the law is not of faith, but he that does these things shall live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham may come on the nations, in Christ Jesus, that we may receive the promise of the Spirit through the faith.


AND certain persons having come down from Judea taught the brothers, If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses you cannot be saved. There being therefore no little dissension and disputation of Paul and Barnabas with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, concerning this question. They, therefore, being sent forward by the church, went to Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the gentiles, and caused great joy to all the brothers. read more.
And when they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, and the apostles, and the elders, and related what things God had done with them. But some of those of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose and said, that it is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders were assembled together to see about this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, Men and brothers, you know that in former days God chose among you that the gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel and believe. And the heart-searching God testified to them, giving to them the Holy Spirit even as to us, and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by the faith. Now, therefore, why do you try God, to put on the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we could bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same manner as they. And all the multitude was silent, and heard Barnabas and Paul relate what miracles and prodigies God performed among the gentiles through them. And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Men and brothers, hear me. Simeon has related how God first visited the gentiles to take a people for his name. And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, After this will I return and build up the tabernacle of David which had fallen down, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up, that the rest of men may seek the Lord, even all the nations on whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things, known from eternity. Wherefore I judge that we ought not to trouble those who turned to God from the gentiles, but to send to them to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and fornication, and things strangled, and blood. For Moses from ancient times has those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every sabbath. Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, with all the assembly [the church], to send delegates from themselves to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, writing by their hand, The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are of the gentiles, greeting. Since we heard that some going out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls, to whom we gave no charge, it seemed good to us, being of one opinion, to send delegates to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things by word. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to put no greater burden upon you except these necessary things; that you should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and blood, and things strangled, and fornication, from which if you keep yourselves you will do well. Farewell.