15While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: "Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved."G2532G5100G2718G575G2449G1321G80G3754G3362G4059G1485G3475G3756G1410G49822Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.G3767G3972G2532G921G1096G3756G3641G4714G2532G4803G4314G846G5021G3972G2532G921G2532G5100G243G1537G846G305G1519G2419G4314G652G2532G4245G4012G5127G22133The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone's joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.G3303G3767G4311G5259G1577G1330G5403G2532G4540G1555G1995G1484G2532G4160G3173G5479G3956G804When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.G1161G3854G1519G2419G588G5259G1577G2532G652G2532G4245G5037G312G3745G2316G4160G3326G8465But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, "The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses."G1161G1817G5100G575G139G5330G4100G3004G3754G1163G4059G846G5037G3853G5083G3551G34756So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.G1161G652G2532G4245G4863G1492G4012G5127G30567At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: "Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.G1161G1096G4183G4803G4074G450G2036G4314G846G435G80G5210G1987G3754G744G2250G575G2316G1586G1722G2254G1484G1223G3450G4750G191G3056G2098G2532G41008God knows people's hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.G2532G2316G2589G846G3140G1325G846G40G4151G2532G2531G22549He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.G2532G1252G3762G1252G3342G5037G2257G2532G846G2511G846G2588G410210So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?G3568G3767G5101G3985G2316G2007G2218G1909G5137G3101G3739G3777G2257G3962G3777G2249G2480G94111We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus."G235G4100G1223G5485G2962G2424G5547G4982G2596G3739G5158G254812Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.G1161G3956G4128G4601G2532G191G921G2532G3972G1834G3745G4592G2532G5059G2316G4160G1722G1484G1223G84613When they had finished, James stood and said, "Brothers, listen to me.G1161G3326G4601G846G4601G2385G611G3004G435G80G191G345014Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.G4826G1834G2531G2316G4412G1980G1484G2983G1537G2992G1909G846G368615And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written.G2532G5129G4856G3056G4396G2531G112516'Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,G3326G5023G390G2532G456G4633G1138G3588G4098G2532G456G2679G846G2532G461G846G46117so that the rest of humanity might seek the LORD, including the Gentiles—all those I have called to be mine. The LORD has spoken—G3704G302G2645G444G1567G2962G2532G3956G1484G1909G3739G3450G3686G1941G1909G846G3004G2962G3588G4160G3956G502318he who made these things known so long ago.'G1110G2316G2076G3956G846G2041G575G16519"And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.G1352G1473G2919G3926G3361G3588G575G1484G1994G1909G231620Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.G235G1989G846G567G575G234G1497G2532G4202G2532G4156G2532G12921For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations."G1063G3475G1537G744G1074G2192G2596G4172G2784G846G314G1722G4864G2596G3956G4521
The Letter for Gentile Believers
22Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.G5119G1380G652G2532G4245G4862G3650G1577G3992G1586G435G1537G846G1519G490G4862G3972G2532G921G2455G1941G923G2532G4609G2233G435G1722G8023This is the letter they took with them: "This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!G1125G1223G5495G846G3592G652G2532G4245G2532G80G5463G80G3588G1537G1484G2596G490G2532G4947G2532G279124"We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!G1894G191G3754G5100G1831G1537G2257G5015G5209G3056G384G5216G5590G3004G4059G2532G5083G3551G3739G1291G3756G129125So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,G1380G2254G1096G3661G3992G1586G435G4314G5209G4862G2257G27G921G2532G397226who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.G444G3860G846G5590G5228G3686G2257G2962G2424G554727We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.G649G3767G2455G2532G4609G846G518G2532G518G846G1223G305628"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements.G1063G1380G40G4151G2532G2254G2007G5213G3367G4119G922G4133G5130G187629You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell."G567G1494G2532G129G2532G4156G2532G4202G1537G3739G1301G1438G4238G2095G451730The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.G3303G3767G630G2064G1519G490G2532G4863G4128G4863G1929G199231And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.G1161G314G5463G1909G387432Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.G2455G2532G4609G5607G4396G2532G846G3870G80G1223G4183G3056G2532G199133They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.G1161G4160G5550G630G3326G1515G575G80G4314G65234G1161G1380G4609G1961G847G196135Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.G3972G1161G2532G921G1304G1722G490G1321G2532G2097G3056G2962G3326G4183G2087G2532
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36After some time Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing."G1161G5100G2250G3326G3972G2036G4314G921G1211G1994G1980G2257G80G2596G3956G4172G1722G3739G2605G3056G2962G4459G219237Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.G1161G921G1011G4838G2491G2564G313838But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.G1161G3972G515G3361G515G4838G5126G4838G3588G868G575G846G575G3828G2532G4905G3361G846G1519G204139Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.G3767G3948G1096G3948G846G5620G673G575G240G5037G921G3880G3138G1602G1519G295440Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord's gracious care.G1161G3972G1951G4609G1831G3860G5259G80G5485G231641Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.G1161G1330G4947G2532G2791G1991G1577
Acts 16
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
16Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek.G1161G2658G1519G1191G2532G3082G2532G2400G5100G3101G2258G1563G3686G5095G5207G5100G1135G2453G4103G1161G3962G16722Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium,G3739G3140G5259G80G1722G3082G2532G24303so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.G5126G2309G3972G1831G4862G846G2532G2983G4059G846G1223G2453G3588G5607G1722G1565G5117G1063G1492G537G3754G846G3962G5225G16724Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.G1161G5613G1279G4172G3860G846G1378G5442G2919G5259G652G2532G4245G3588G1722G24195So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.G3303G3767G4732G1577G4732G4102G2532G4052G706G2250G2596
A Call from Macedonia
6Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.G1161G1330G5435G2532G5561G1054G2967G5259G40G4151G2980G3056G1722G7737Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.G2064G2596G3465G3985G4198G2596G978G2532G4151G1439G846G37568So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.G1161G3928G3465G2597G1519G51749That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!"G2532G3705G3700G3972G1223G3571G2258G2476G5100G435G3110G3870G846G2532G3004G1224G1519G3109G997G225410So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.G1161G5613G1492G3705G2112G2212G1831G1519G3109G4822G3754G2962G4341G2248G2097G846
Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus
11We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis.G3767G321G575G5174G2113G1519G4543G5037G1966G1519G349612From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.G5037G1564G1519G5375G3748G2076G4413G4172G3310G3109G2862G1161G2258G1722G5026G4172G1304G5100G225013On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.G5037G4521G2250G1831G1854G4172G3844G4215G3757G4335G3543G1511G2532G2523G2980G1135G490514One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.G2532G5100G1135G3686G3070G4211G4172G2363G4576G2316G191G3739G2588G2962G1272G4337G2980G5259G397215She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we agreed.G1161G5613G907G2532G846G3624G3870G3004G1487G2919G3165G1511G4103G2962G1525G1519G3450G3624G3306G2532G3849G2248
Paul and Silas in Prison
16One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters.G1161G1096G2257G4198G1519G4335G5100G3814G2192G4151G4436G528G2254G3748G3930G846G2962G4183G2039G313217She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved."G3778G2628G3972G2532G2254G2896G3004G3778G444G1526G1401G5310G2316G3748G2605G2254G3598G499118This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And instantly it left her.G1161G5124G4160G1909G4183G2250G1161G3972G1278G1994G2532G2036G4151G3853G4671G1722G3686G2424G5547G1831G575G846G2532G1831G846G561019Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.G1161G846G2962G1492G3754G1680G846G2039G1831G1949G3972G2532G4609G1670G1519G58G1909G75820"The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials.G2532G4317G846G4755G2036G3778G444G5225G2453G1613G2257G417221"They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice."G2532G2605G1485G3739G1832G3756G1832G2254G3858G3761G4160G5607G451422A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.G2532G3793G4911G2596G846G2532G4755G4048G846G2440G2753G446323They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape.G5037G2007G4183G4127G846G906G1519G5438G3853G1200G5083G846G80624So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.G3739G2983G5108G3852G906G846G1519G2082G5438G2532G805G846G4228G805G1519G358625Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.G1161G2596G3317G3972G2532G4609G4336G5214G2316G1161G1198G1874G84626Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!G1161G869G1096G3173G4578G5620G2310G1201G4531G5037G3916G3956G2374G455G2532G3956G1199G44727The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.G1161G1200G1096G1853G2532G1492G5438G2374G455G4685G3162G3195G337G1438G3543G1198G162828But Paul shouted to him, "Stop! Don't kill yourself! We are all here!"G1161G3972G5455G3173G5456G3004G4238G4572G3367G2556G1063G2070G537G175929The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.G1161G154G5457G1530G2532G1096G1790G4363G3972G2532G460930Then he brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"G2532G4254G846G1854G5346G2962G5101G1163G3165G4160G2443G498231They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household."G1161G2036G4100G1909G2962G2424G5547G2532G4771G4982G2532G4675G362432And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.G2532G2980G846G3056G2962G2532G3956G1722G846G361433Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.G2532G3880G846G1722G1565G5610G3571G3068G575G4127G2532G907G846G2532G3956G846G391634He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.G5037G321G846G1519G3624G3908G5132G3908G2532G21G4100G2316G3832G846G383235The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, "Let those men go!"G1161G1096G2250G4755G649G4465G3004G630G1565G444G63036So the jailer told Paul, "The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace."G1161G1200G518G5128G3056G4314G3972G3754G4755G649G2443G630G3568G3767G1831G4198G1722G151537But Paul replied, "They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!"G1161G3972G5346G4314G846G1194G2248G1219G178G5225G4514G444G906G1519G5438G2532G3568G1544G2248G1544G2977G3756G1063G235G2064G846G1806G2248G180638When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.G1161G4465G312G5023G4487G4755G2532G5399G191G3754G1526G451439So they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city.G2532G2064G3870G846G2532G1806G2065G1831G417240When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.G1161G1831G1537G5438G1525G1519G3070G2532G1492G80G3870G846G2532G1831
Psalms 126
126[A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.] When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!H7892H4609H3068H7725H7870H6726H24922We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”H6310H4390H7814H3956H7440H559H1471H3068H6213H14313Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!H3068H6213H1431H80564Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.H7725H7622H7622H3068H650H50455Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.H2232H1832H7114H74406They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.H3212H1980H1058H5375H4901H2233H935H935H7440H5375H485
Dublin, OH
: "Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved."G2532
