8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was ^ucrippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,¹ 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he ^vsprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, ^w“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer ^xsacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should ^yturn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In ^zpast generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself ^awithout witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, ^bthey stoned Paul and ^cdragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had ^dmade many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many ^etribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ^fappointed elders for them in every church, ^gwith ^hprayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, 26 and from there they sailed to Antioch, ⁱwhere they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. 27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had ^jopened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

1 ^kBut some ^lmen came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are ^mcircumcised ⁿaccording to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, ^oPaul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail ^pthe conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.² 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that ^qin the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, ^rbore witness ^sto them, by giving them the Holy Spirit ^tjust as he did to us, 9 and he ^umade no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you ^vputting God to the test by placing a ^wyoke on the neck of the disciples that ^xneither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be ^ysaved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first ^zvisited the Gentiles, to take from them ^aa people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things ^dpolluted by ^eidols, and from ^fsexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from ^gblood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”