15 And certain having come down from Judea, were teaching the brethren -- `If ye be not circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye are not able to be saved;'

² there having been, therefore, not a little dissension and disputation to Paul and Barnabas with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up unto the apostles and elders to Jerusalem about this question,

³ they indeed, then, having been sent forward by the assembly, were passing through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brethren.

⁴ And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, they declared also as many things as God did with them;

⁵ and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying -- `It behoveth to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the law of Moses.'

⁶ And there were gathered together the apostles and the elders, to see about this matter,

⁷ and there having been much disputing, Peter having risen up said unto them, `Men, brethren, ye know that from former days, God among us did make choice, through my mouth, for the nations to hear the word of the good news, and to believe;

⁸ and the heart-knowing God did bare them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us,

⁹ and did put no difference also between us and them, by the faith having purified their hearts;

¹⁰ now, therefore, why do ye tempt God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

¹¹ but, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.'

¹² And all the multitude did keep silence, and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul, declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them;

¹³ and after they are silent, James answered, saying, `Men, brethren, hearken to me;

¹⁴ Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name,

¹⁵ and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written:

¹⁶ After these things I will turn back, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and its ruins I will build again, and will set it upright --

¹⁷ that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name hath been called, saith the Lord, who is doing all these things.

¹⁸ `Known from the ages to God are all His works;

¹⁹ wherefore I judge: not to trouble those who from the nations do turn back to God,

²⁰ but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;

²¹ for Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him -- in the synagogues every sabbath being read.'

²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, chosen men out of themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas -- Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren --

²³ having written through their hand thus: `The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brethren, who [are] of the nations, greeting;

²⁴ seeing we have heard that certain having gone forth from us did trouble you with words, subverting your souls, saying to be circumcised and to keep the law, to whom we did give no charge,

²⁵ it seemed good to us, having come together with one accord, chosen men to send unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul --

²⁶ men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ --

²⁷ we have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they by word are telling the same things.

²⁸ `For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things:

²⁹ to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well; be strong!'

³⁰ They then, indeed, having been let go, went to Antioch, and having brought the multitude together, did deliver the epistle,

³¹ and they having read, did rejoice for the consolation;

³² Judas also and Silas, being themselves also prophets, through much discourse did exhort the brethren, and confirm,

³³ and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brethren unto the apostles;

³⁴ and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.

³⁵ And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news -- with many others also -- the word of the Lord;

³⁶ and after certain days, Paul said unto Barnabas, `Having turned back again, we may look after our brethren, in every city in which we have preached the word of the Lord -- how they are.'

³⁷ And Barnabas counseled to take with [them] John called Mark,

³⁸ and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work;

³⁹ there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, did sail to Cyprus,

⁴⁰ and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brethren;

⁴¹ and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.

16 And he came to Derbe and Lystra, and lo, a certain disciple was there, by name Timotheus son of a certain woman, a believing Jewess, but of a father, a Greek,

² who was well testified to by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium;

³ this one did Paul wish to go forth with him, and having taken [him], he circumcised him, because of the Jews who are in those places, for they all knew his father -- that he was a Greek.

⁴ And as they were going on through the cities, they were delivering to them the decrees to keep, that have been judged by the apostles and the elders who [are] in Jerusalem,

⁵ then, indeed, were the assemblies established in the faith, and were abounding in number every day;

⁶ and having gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia,

⁷ having gone toward Mysia, they were trying to go on toward Bithynia, and the Spirit did not suffer them,

⁸ and having passed by Mysia, they came down to Troas.

⁹ And a vision through the night appeared to Paul -- a certain man of Macedonia was standing, calling upon him, and saying, `Having passed through to Macedonia, help us;' --

¹⁰ and when he saw the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go forth to Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord hath called us to preach good news to them,

¹¹ having set sail, therefore, from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, on the morrow also to Neapolis,

¹² thence also to Philippi, which is a principal city of the part of Macedonia -- a colony. And we were in this city abiding certain days,

¹³ on the sabbath-day also we went forth outside of the city, by a river, where there used to be prayer, and having sat down, we were speaking to the women who came together,

¹⁴ and a certain woman, by name Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, worshipping God, was hearing, whose heart the Lord did open to attend to the things spoken by Paul;

¹⁵ and when she was baptized, and her household, she did call upon us, saying, `If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, having entered into my house, remain;' and she constrained us.

¹⁶ And it came to pass in our going on to prayer, a certain maid, having a spirit of Python, did meet us, who brought much employment to her masters by soothsaying,

¹⁷ she having followed Paul and us, was crying, saying, `These men are servants of the Most High God, who declare to us a way of salvation;'

¹⁸ and this she was doing for many days, but Paul having been grieved, and having turned, said to the spirit, `I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come forth from her;' and it came forth the same hour.

¹⁹ And her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone, having caught Paul and Silas, drew [them] to the market-place, unto the rulers,

²⁰ and having brought them to the magistrates, they said, `These men do exceedingly trouble our city, being Jews;

²¹ and they proclaim customs that are not lawful for us to receive nor to do, being Romans.'

²² And the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates having torn their garments from them, were commanding to beat [them] with rods,

²³ many blows also having laid upon them, they cast them to prison, having given charge to the jailor to keep them safely,

²⁴ who such a charge having received, did put them to the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks.

²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas praying, were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were hearing them,

²⁶ and suddenly a great earthquake came, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, opened also presently were all the doors, and of all -- the bands were loosed;

²⁷ and the jailor having come out of sleep, and having seen the doors of the prison open, having drawn a sword, was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners to be fled,

²⁸ and Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, `Thou mayest not do thyself any harm, for we are all here.'

²⁹ And, having asked for a light, he sprang in, and trembling he fell down before Paul and Silas,

³⁰ and having brought them forth, said, `Sirs, what must I do -- that I may be saved?'

³¹ and they said, `Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved -- thou and thy house;'

³² and they spake to him the word of the Lord, and to all those in his household;

³³ and having taken them, in that hour of the night, he did bathe [them] from the blows, and was baptized, himself and all his presently,

³⁴ having brought them also into his house, he set food before [them], and was glad with all the household, he having believed in God.

³⁵ And day having come, the magistrates sent the rod-bearers, saying, `Let those men go;'

³⁶ and the jailor told these words unto Paul -- `The magistrates have sent, that ye may be let go; now, therefore, having gone forth go on in peace;'

³⁷ and Paul said to them, `Having beaten us publicly uncondemned -- men, Romans being -- they did cast [us] to prison, and now privately do they cast us forth! why no! but having come themselves, let them bring us forth.'

³⁸ And the rod-bearers told to the magistrates these sayings, and they were afraid, having heard that they are Romans,

³⁹ and having come, they besought them, and having brought [them] forth, they were asking [them] to go forth from the city;

⁴⁰ and they, having gone forth out of the prison, entered into [the house of] Lydia, and having seen the brethren, they comforted them, and went forth.

17 And having passed through Amphipolis, and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews,

² and according to the custom of Paul, he went in unto them, and for three sabbaths he was reasoning with them from the Writings,

³ opening and alleging, `That the Christ it behoved to suffer, and to rise again out of the dead, and that this is the Christ -- Jesus whom I proclaim to you.'

⁴ And certain of them did believe, and attached themselves to Paul and to Silas, also of the worshipping Greeks a great multitude, of the principal women also not a few.

⁵ And the unbelieving Jews, having been moved with envy, and having taken to them of the loungers certain evil men, and having made a crowd, were setting the city in an uproar; having assailed also the house of Jason, they were seeking them to bring [them] to the populace,

⁶ and not having found them, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the city rulers, calling aloud -- `These, having put the world in commotion, are also here present,

⁷ whom Jason hath received; and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying another to be king -- Jesus.'

⁸ And they troubled the multitude and the city rulers, hearing these things,

⁹ and having taking security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

¹⁰ And the brethren immediately, through the night, sent forth both Paul and Silas to Berea, who having come, went to the synagogue of the Jews;

¹¹ and these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so;

¹² many, indeed, therefore, of them did believe, and of the honourable Greek women and men not a few.

¹³ And when the Jews from Thessalonica knew that also in Berea was the word of God declared by Paul, they came thither also, agitating the multitudes;

¹⁴ and then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul, to go on as it were to the sea, but both Silas and Timothy were remaining there.

¹⁵ And those conducting Paul, brought him unto Athens, and having received a command unto Silas and Timotheus that with all speed they may come unto him, they departed;

¹⁶ and Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, beholding the city wholly given to idolatry,

¹⁷ therefore, indeed, he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the worshipping persons, and in the market-place every day with those who met with him.

¹⁸ And certain of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers, were meeting together to see him, and some were saying, `What would this seed picker wish to say?' and others, `Of strange demons he doth seem to be an announcer;' because Jesus and the rising again he did proclaim to them as good news,

¹⁹ having also taken him, unto the Areopagus they brought [him], saying, `Are we able to know what [is] this new teaching that is spoken by thee,

²⁰ for certain strange things thou dost bring to our ears? we wish, then, to know what these things would wish to be;'

²¹ and all Athenians, and the strangers sojourning, for nothing else were at leisure but to say something, and to hear some newer thing.

²² And Paul, having stood in the midst of the Areopagus, said, `Men, Athenians, in all things I perceive you as over-religious;

²³ for passing through and contemplating your objects of worship, I found also an erection on which had been inscribed: To God -- unknown; whom, therefore -- not knowing -- ye do worship, this One I announce to you.

²⁴ `God, who did make the world, and all things in it, this One, of heaven and of earth being Lord, in temples made with hands doth not dwell,

²⁵ neither by the hands of men is He served -- needing anything, He giving to all life, and breath, and all things;

²⁶ He made also of one blood every nation of men, to dwell upon all the face of the earth -- having ordained times before appointed, and the bounds of their dwellings --

²⁷ to seek the Lord, if perhaps they did feel after Him and find, -- though, indeed, He is not far from each one of us,

²⁸ for in Him we live, and move, and are; as also certain of your poets have said: For of Him also we are offspring.

²⁹ `Being, therefore, offspring of God, we ought not to think the Godhead to be like to gold, or silver, or stone, graving of art and device of man;

³⁰ the times, indeed, therefore, of the ignorance God having overlooked, doth now command all men everywhere to reform,

³¹ because He did set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom He did ordain, having given assurance to all, having raised him out of the dead.'

³² And having heard of a rising again of the dead, some, indeed, were mocking, but others said, `We will hear thee again concerning this;'

³³ and so Paul went forth from the midst of them,

³⁴ and certain men having cleaved to him, did believe, among whom [is] also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman, by name Damaris, and others with them.

18 And after these things, Paul having departed out of Athens, came to Corinth,

² and having found a certain Jew, by name Aquilas, of Pontus by birth, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife -- because of Claudius having directed all the Jews to depart out of Rome -- he came to them,

³ and because of being of the same craft, he did remain with them, and was working, for they were tent-makers as to craft;

⁴ and he was reasoning in the synagogue every sabbath, persuading both Jews and Greeks.

⁵ And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the Spirit, testifying fully to the Jews Jesus the Christ;

⁶ and on their resisting and speaking evil, having shaken [his] garments, he said unto them, `Your blood [is] upon your head -- I am clean; henceforth to the nations I will go on.'

⁷ And having departed thence, he went to the house of a certain one, by name Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house was adjoining the synagogue,

⁸ and Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue did believe in the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing were believing, and they were being baptized.

⁹ And the Lord said through a vision in the night to Paul, `Be not afraid, but be speaking and thou mayest be not silent;

¹⁰ because I am with thee, and no one shall set on thee to do thee evil; because I have much people in this city;'

¹¹ and he continued a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God.

¹² And Gallio being proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a rush with one accord upon Paul, and brought him unto the tribunal,

¹³ saying -- `Against the law this one doth persuade men to worship God;'

¹⁴ and Paul being about to open [his] mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, `If, indeed, then, it was anything unrighteous, or an act of wicked profligacy, O Jews, according to reason I had borne with you,

¹⁵ but if it is a question concerning words and names, and of your law, look ye yourselves [to it], for a judge of these things I do not wish to be,'

¹⁶ and he drave them from the tribunal;

¹⁷ and all the Greeks having taken Sosthenes, the chief man of the synagogue, were beating [him] before the tribunal, and not even for these things was Gallio caring.

¹⁸ And Paul having remained yet a good many days, having taken leave of the brethren, was sailing to Syria -- and with him [are] Priscilla and Aquilas -- having shorn [his] head in Cenchera, for he had a vow;

¹⁹ and he came down to Ephesus, and did leave them there, and he himself having entered into the synagogue did reason with the Jews:

²⁰ and they having requested [him] to remain a longer time with them, he did not consent,

²¹ but took leave of them, saying, `It behoveth me by all means the coming feast to keep at Jerusalem, and again I will return unto you -- God willing.' And he sailed from Ephesus,

²² and having come down to Cesarea, having gone up, and having saluted the assembly, he went down to Antioch.

²³ And having made some stay he went forth, going through in order the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴ And a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by birth, a man of eloquence, being mighty in the Writings, came to Ephesus,

²⁵ this one was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in the Spirit, was speaking and teaching exactly the things about the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John;

²⁶ this one also began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Aquilas and Priscilla having heard of him, took him to [them], and did more exactly expound to him the way of God,

²⁷ and he being minded to go through into Achaia, the brethren wrote to the disciples, having exhorted them to receive him, who having come, did help them much who have believed through the grace,

²⁸ for powerfully the Jews he was refuting publicly, shewing through the Writings Jesus to be the Christ.