44 ¶ And the next sabbathday came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles:

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord; and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their

coasts.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto lconium.i

i Iconium, the capital of Lycaonia in Asia Minor.

Paul & Barnabas persecuted. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

CHAP. XIV.

1 Paul and Barnabas are persecuted. 8 Paul healing a cripple, they are reputed as gods. 19 Paul is stoned. 21 They pass through divers churches, and return to Antioch.

AND it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude, both of the Jews, and also of the Greeks, believed.

2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil-affected against the breti ren.

3 Long time, therefore, abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimonya unto the word of this grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

5 And when there was an assault made, both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews, with their rulers to use them despitefully, and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto.

a Which gave testimony, &c. Who gave evidence to the power of his word and grace by granting signs, &c,

Paul healeth a cripple.

the region that lieth round about:

And there they preached the Gospel.

8 ¶ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent b in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked :

9 The same heard Paul speak; who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying, in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

12 And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrificec with the people.

14 Which when the apóstles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes,d and ran in among the people, crying out,

b Impotent, disordered.

e Done sacrifice, &c. would with the people have offered sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.

d Rent their clothes. To rend the garments was, among the Jews, an expression of great sorrow & regret.

He is stoned, &c.

15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? we also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you, that ye should turn from these vanitiese unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things, that are therein;

16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

48 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.f

19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people; and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the eity, supposing he had been dead.

20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city; and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many,

e These vanities, this vain and idolatrous worship.

f Scarcely could Paul and Barnabas with these words, prevent the Lycaonians from worshipping them as gods,

The apostles consult

they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga they went down into Attalia; 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

CHAP. XV. 1 Dissension about circumcision: 6 The apostles consult about it: 22 their determination. 36 Paul and Barnabas contend, and part.

AND certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except

about circumcision.

ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved.

2 When, therefore, Paul & Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And, being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things, that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees a which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And, when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago, God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth
a Pharisees. See Introduction, p. 6.

the hearts, bear them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us ;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.b

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

11 But we believe that, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall be sayed even as they.

12 ¶ Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 And, after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me.

14 Simeon, c hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophet; as it is written,d

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up;

6 In 7-9 verses Peter refers to the conversion of Cornelius, Chap. x. c Simeon, Simon Peter, who in the seventh verse rose to speak.

12.

d As it is written in Amos, ix. II,

the churches.

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore, my sentence is, that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.e

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Si, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greetingƒ unto the

e Pollutions of idols, or meats offered to idols, see ver. 29. things strangled, and blood have reference to certain

idolatrous practices, from which the apostles thought it prudent to advise christian converts to abstain; because they are forbidden by the law of Moses, which, we are told in the 21st verse, is every sabbath read in the synagogues.

f Greeting is here a term of civility, implying, best wishes for health and prosperity.

brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words g subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed they came to Antioch: and, when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.

31 Which, when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Words here means unnecessary restrictions or injunctions.

Barnabas part.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets h also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding, it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 ¶ And some days after Paul said unto 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 do.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

37 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.i

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other; and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recom mended by the brethren unto the grace of God.j