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And a certain man sat at Lystra, infirm in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, and who never had walk9 ed this man heard Paul speaking: who, when he had stedfastly looked on him, and perceived that he had faith 10 so as to be restored, said with a loud voice, "Stand up11 right on thy feet." And he leaped and walked. And when the multitudes saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." 12 And they called Barnabas Jupiter; and Paul Mercury, 13 because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before their city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates, and, together with the 14 multitudes, would have offered sacrifice. But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their clothes, and rushed in among the multitudes, crying out, 15 and saying, "Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like infirmities with yourselves, and proclaim to you glad tidings, that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God, who made heaven, and earth, 16 and the sea, and all things in them: who, in the past

*

generations, suffered all the gentiles to walk in their own 17 ways. Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, doing good, giving you † rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And by saying this they scarcely restrained the multitudes from offering sacrifice to them.

19

But certain Jews came thither from Antioch and Iconium; who, having persuaded the multitudes, and stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, and supposed that he 20 had been dead. However, when the disciples had surrounded him, he rose up, and entered into the city.

And on the morrow he and Barnabas departed to 21 Derbè. And when they had preached the gospel to that

of Jupiter's temple, that, N.

† us, and our, R.T,

city, and had made many disciples, they returned to 22 Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch; strengthening the minds of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith; and saying that through many afflictions we 23 must enter into the kingdom of God. And when they

had appointed to them elders* in every church, and had prayed and fasted, they commended them to the Lord, 24 on whom they had believed. And after they had passed 25 through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. And when

they had preached the word at Perga, they went down 26 into Attalia: and thence they sailed to Antioch, whence

they had been recommended to the favour of God for the 27 work which they had fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they related what things God had done by them; and how he 28 had opened the door of faith to the gentiles. And [there] they abode no short time with the disciples.

CH. XV. Now certain men came down from Judea, and taught the brethren +, saying, "Unless ye be circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, ye cannot be 2 saved." When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention [and dispute] with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and 3 elders, about this question. And, having been conducted on their way by the church, they passed through Phenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the gentiles; 4 and caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles, and the elders; and they related all things 5 which God had done through them. But," said they, some of the sect of the Pharisees, who believed, have risen up, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise the gentiles, and to command that they should keep the law of Moses." "

appointed elders over them, N. Symonds, p. 57.

66

Or, certain persons who had come down from Judea were teaching, &e,

X

6

Then the apostles and the elders came together, to con 7 sider of this matter. And when there had been much dis

pute among them, Peter rose up, and said unto them, "Brethren, ye know that in former days God made choice among us, that the gentiles by my mouth should hear the 8 word of the gospel, and should believe. And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, and gave to them 9 the holy spirit, even as to us; and made no difference

between us and them, having purified their hearts by 10 faith. Now therefore why do ye try God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers 11 nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the favour of the Lord Jesus †, in like manner as the gentiles also."

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Then all the multitude kept silence, and hearkened to Barnabas and Paul, relating what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the gentiles by them.

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13 And after these were silent, James spake, saying, Brethren, hearken to me. Simon Peter hath declared how God first regarded the gentiles, to take out of them 15 a people for his name. And to this the words of the pro16 phets agree; as it is written, After these things I will again build up the fallen tabernacle of David; and I will 17 build up its ruins, and will restore it: that the residue of

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men may seek after the Lord, and all the gentiles over whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth these 18 things which were known to him of old ‡. Wherefore my judgement is, that we disquiet not those who from 20 among the gentiles turn to God; but write to them, that they abstain from the polluted offerings to idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses in every city hath those who preach him; being read in the synagogues on every sabbath."

*Or, the gracious gospel of the Lord Jesus. See 2 Cor. iv. 15; vi. 1.

+ Lord Jesus Christ, R. T.

who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works, from the begining of the world, or, of old. R. T.

22

Then it seemed good to the apostles, and the elders, and the whole church, to choose men from among themselves, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading 23 men among the brethren: having written a letter by them

in this manner: "The apostles and the elders, and the brethren, send greeting to the brethren that are of the 24 gentiles in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. Whereas we have heard, that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds *, [saying that ye must be circumcised and keep the law;] to 25 whom we gave no such commandment: it hath seemed good to us, being assembled with one mind, to choose men and send them to you, together with our beloved Bar26 nabas and Paul, who have† hazarded their lives for the 27 name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore

Judas and Silas; who will tell you the same things in 28 words also. For it hath seemed good to the holy spirit

and to us, to lay upon you no greater burthen than 29 [these] necessary things; that ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye will do well. Fare ye well."

30 So when they were dismissed, they went to Antioch :

and, when they had gathered the multitude together, 31 they delivered the epistle: which when the brethren had 32 read, they rejoiced at this comfort. And Judas and Silas,

being themselves also prophets, comforted the brethren 33 with many words, and strengthened them. And after they had remained there for some time, they were dismissed with wishes of peace by the brethren to those who sent 34 them §. [Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to continue

subverting your minds, N. See N. m. and Schleusner's Lex.

+ Or, men who have, &c.

Some conjecture that wogzuas, swine's flesh, is the true reading here and in ver. 20. See Griesbach.

§ to the apostles, R. T.

35 there still *.] But Paul and Barnabas abode in Antioch, teaching and preaching the glad tidings of the word of the Lord, with many others.

36

And after some days, Paul said to 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 37 are." Then Barnabas advised to take with them John, 38 whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought it not proper to take with them him, who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Wherefore sharp anger arose, so that they separated from each other; and that Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

40

But Paul chose Silas, and departed; having been re41 commended by the brethren to the favour of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the CH.churches. Then he came to Derbè and Lystra. And,

XVI.,

behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, (the son of a believing Jewess, but his father was a gen2 tile) who was well reported of by the brethren at Lystra 3 and Iconium. Paul was desirous that this man should go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him, because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all 4 knew that his father was a gentile. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them for their observance the ordinances which had been made by the аро5 stles and elders at Jerusalem. The churches therefore were becoming confirmed in the faith, and increasing in number every day †.

6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia, and the

country of Galatia, and were forbidden by the holy spirit 7 to preach the word in Asia; after they came to Mysia,

* Ver. 34 is wanting in the Alex. and some other manuscripts. The Camb. adds, "but Judas returned alone." The words are probably a marginal gloss to account for the choice of Silas by Paul, ver. 40. See Newcome's note.

+ See Wakefield. were established in the faith and abounded in number daily. N.

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