Part 31 (1/2)

(50)But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out from their borders. (51)And they, having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, came to Iconium.

(52)And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit.

XIV.

AND it came to pa.s.s in Iconium, that they went together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke, that a great mult.i.tude both of Jews and Greeks believed. (2)But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up and embittered the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren. (3)They spent a long time, therefore, speaking boldly in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

(4)But the mult.i.tude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. (5)And when a movement was made, both of the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, (6)they, being aware of it, fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region around; (7)and there they were publis.h.i.+ng the good news.

(8)And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being lame from his mother's womb, who never walked. (9)This man was listening to Paul as he spoke; who, fixing his eyes on him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, (10)said with a loud voice: Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up, and walked.

(11)And the mult.i.tudes, seeing what Paul did, lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia: The G.o.ds are come down to us in the likeness of men. (12)And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker. (13)And the priest of Jupiter, that was before the city, having brought oxen and garlands to the gates, would have offered sacrifice with the people. (14)But the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, hearing of it, rent their clothes, and rushed forth to the mult.i.tude; crying out, (15)and saying: Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like nature with you, bringing you glad tidings, that ye should turn from these vanities to the living G.o.d, who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein; (16)who, in the ages past, suffered all nations to walk in their own ways; (17)although he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, giving you rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.

(18)And with these sayings they hardly restrained the people from sacrificing to them.

(19)But there came thither Jews from Antioch and Iconium; and having persuaded the people, and stoned Paul, they drew him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. (20)But the disciples having gathered around him, he rose up, and came into the city; and on the morrow he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. (21)And having published the good news to that city, and made many disciples, they turned back to Lystra, and Iconium, and Antioch; (22)confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much affliction enter into the kingdom of G.o.d.

(23)And having appointed for them elders in every church, they commended them, with prayer and fasting, to the Lord, on whom they believed. (24)And after pa.s.sing through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. (25)And having spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia; (26)and thence they sailed away to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of G.o.d for the work which they accomplished.

(27)And having come, and gathered the church together, they reported how great things G.o.d wrought with them, and that he opened to the Gentiles a door of faith. (28)And they spent no little time with the disciples.

XV.

AND certain men, coming down from Judaea, taught the brethren: Except ye are circ.u.mcised after the custom of Moses, ye can not be saved.

(2)Paul and Barnabas having therefore had no little dissension and discussion with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders, about this question.

(3)They therefore, having been sent forward by the church, pa.s.sed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. (4)And having come to Jerusalem, they were gladly received by the church, and the apostles and elders; and they reported how great things G.o.d wrought with them. (5)But there arose some of those from the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying: It is necessary to circ.u.mcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

(6)And the apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter. (7)And when there had been much discussion, Peter arose, and said to them: Men, brethren, ye know that a long time ago G.o.d made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the glad tidings and believe. (8)And G.o.d who knows the heart bore them witness, giving to them the Holy Spirit, as also to us; (9)and made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

(10)Now therefore why do ye tempt G.o.d, by putting 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, we believe that we shall be saved, in the same manner as they also.

(12)And all the mult.i.tude became silent, and listened to Barnabas and Paul, narrating how great signs and wonders G.o.d wrought among the Gentiles through them.

(13)And after they were silent, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hearken to me. (14)Simeon narrated how at first G.o.d visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (15)And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written:

(16)After this I will return, And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; And I will rebuild the ruins thereof, and will set it up again; (17)that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name has been called, Saith the Lord, who does these things[15:17].

(18)Known to G.o.d are all his works from the beginning of the world.

(19)Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not those who from among the Gentiles are turning to G.o.d; (20)but that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. (21)For Moses of old time has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

(22)Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, resolved, having chosen men from themselves, to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. (23)And they wrote by them thus: