And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.
But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that "through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God." And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed. And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled. And when they had come, and had gathered the church together, they told all things that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles. And they tarried no little time with the disciples.
IV
A DISTURBANCE IN THE CHURCH
How a Serious Dispute Was Settled by Mutual Conference.
(Trouble arose in the church very early over the question of admitting people of the outside world, or Gentiles, into the fellowship of the faith. There was a party in the church who insisted very strongly that the Gentiles, if they came in, must conform to all the rites and ceremonies of the Jews. Another party, headed by Paul, said that it was not necessary for the Gentiles to become Jews; that they could be Christians without following all the religious ceremonies of the Jews. After Paul and Barnabas returned from their missionary journey, and reported the conversion of many Gentiles to the new faith, a great meeting of the leaders was called at Jerusalem, and the matter, after warm discussion, was decided in favor of the broader view of Paul.)
And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, "Except ye keep the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved." And when Paul and Barnabas had no little disagreement and questioning with them, the brethren decided that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they repeated all the things that God had done with them.
And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up and said unto them, "Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, who knoweth the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they."
And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul as they told what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. And after they had ceased speaking, James answered, saying,--
"Brethren, hearken unto me: Symeon hath rehearsed how first God did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,--