James

54He went to his hometown. He taught the people in their meeting place, and they were amazed. They asked, "Where did this man get such wisdom and such power?"

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

NoteThe meeting place was called a synagogue. People gathered there to pray and hear God's words read out loud.

55"Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother named Mary? Aren't James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers?"

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

NoteA carpenter built things from wood and stone, like doors and roofs. It was hard, ordinary work.

56"And aren't all his sisters here with us? So where did this man get all this?"

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57They would not accept him. But Jesus said, "People honor a prophet everywhere except in his hometown and his own home."

And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

NoteThe King James says a prophet is not without "honour." Honor means being treated with respect.

58He did not do many miracles there, because the people did not believe.

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

NoteThe old words "mighty works" mean miracles. Those are wonderful things only God can do.

1Jesus left that place and went to his hometown. His disciples, his close followers, went with him.

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

Note"His own country" means the town where Jesus grew up. That town was Nazareth. The people there had known him since he was small.

2On the Sabbath, the day of rest, Jesus taught in the synagogue, the place where people met to worship. Many who heard him were very surprised. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has he been given? How can he do such powerful things?"

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

NoteThe Sabbath was the seventh day of every week. God's law said people should rest and not work that day. A synagogue was a building in town. Jews met there to pray and hear God's words read out loud.

3"Isn't this the carpenter, the man who builds things from wood? Isn't he Mary's son? Isn't he the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Don't his sisters live right here with us?" So they would not accept him.

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

NoteA carpenter made doors, roofs and farm tools out of wood. It was ordinary, hard work. Being "offended at him" does not mean their feelings were hurt. It means they would not believe he was anyone special.

4Jesus said to them, "A prophet, someone who tells people what God says, is honored everywhere. But he is not honored in his own town, or by his own family, or in his own house."

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

NoteThe old spelling "honour" is our word honor. To honor someone means to treat them as important.

5So he could not do any powerful miracles there. He only put his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

Note"Mighty work" is the old way of saying miracle. A miracle is something only God's power can do.

6He was amazed that they would not believe. Then he went from village to village, teaching the people.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

12Once he understood, Peter went to Mary's house. She was the mother of John, who was also called Mark. Many people were gathered there, praying.

And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

NoteMark is the same John Mark who later wrote one of the books about Jesus. In those days people met in houses to pray, because they had no church buildings.

13Peter knocked at the outer gate. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.

And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.

NoteA servant girl worked in the house and helped the family. Big houses had a wall around them with a gate. Someone had to walk out to the gate to see who was knocking.

14She knew Peter's voice. She was so happy that she did not open the gate. She ran back inside and said Peter was standing outside.

And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

15They said to her, "You are out of your mind." But she kept saying it was true. Then they said, "It must be his angel."

And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

NoteMany people back then believed each person had an angel who watched over them. They thought that angel might sound just like the person. So they guessed it was Peter's angel at the gate, not Peter.

16Peter kept on knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they could hardly believe it.

But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.

17Peter waved his hand for them to be quiet. He told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, "Tell James and the other believers about this." Then he left and went somewhere else.

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

NoteThis is a different James from the one in verse 2. This James was Jesus' brother, and he was a leader in Jerusalem. The old words say "the brethren," which means the other people who followed Jesus.

6So the apostles and elders met together to look at this question.

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

7They talked about it for a long time. Then Peter stood up and said, "Brothers, listen. You know what God did a good while ago. He chose me to tell the good news to Gentiles. They heard it from my mouth, and they believed."

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.

NoteThe "good news" is the news about Jesus. It tells how he came to rescue people and bring them to God.

8"God knows what is inside every heart. He showed that he accepted them. He gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave him to us."

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

NoteThe Holy Spirit is God himself, come to live inside his people. He helps them and shows them what is true.

9"He did not treat them any differently from us. He made their hearts clean because they trusted him."

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

10"So why are you testing God? You want to put a yoke on the necks of these followers. Our fathers could not carry that load. We could not carry it either."

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?

NoteA yoke is a heavy wooden bar. It is laid across the necks of two oxen so they can pull a cart. Peter says all the rules felt like that heavy bar.

11"We believe the Lord Jesus saves us by his kindness, as a free gift. Gentiles are saved the very same way."

But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Note"Kindness as a free gift" is what the Bible calls grace. A gift is not something you work for. Nobody can earn it or pay for it.

12Then the whole crowd grew quiet. They listened to Barnabas and Paul. The two men told about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

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.

NoteSigns and wonders are amazing things only God can do. Healing a sick person is one kind of sign.

13When they had finished speaking, James spoke up. He said, "Brothers, listen to me."

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

NoteThis James was a leader of the church in Jerusalem. He was one of Jesus' own brothers.

14"Simon Peter has told us what God did first. He came to the Gentiles and took some of them to be his own people."

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

NoteThe King James Bible calls Peter "Simeon" here. That was another way to say Simon, Peter's first name.

15"The words of the prophets agree with this. Prophets were men who told people what God said. Here is what is written:"

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Note"It is written" means the words come from the old holy books. Those books were written hundreds of years before.

16"'After this I will come back. I will build David's fallen tent again. I will build up its broken parts. I will set it up again.'"

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:

NoteDavid was Israel's greatest king, long, long before. His family and his kingdom had fallen down like a collapsed tent. God promised to set the tent up again.

17"'I will do this so that the rest of the people can look for the Lord. Then all the Gentiles who are called by my name can look for him too. The Lord says this, and he is the one who does it.'"

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.

NoteTo be "called by my name" means belonging to God. It is a bit like getting a family's last name.

18"'God has known all the things he does, from long, long ago.'"

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

19"So here is what I think. We should not make trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God."

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

20"Instead, let us write to them. Tell them to stay away from food that has been given to idols. Idols are statues that people pray to. Tell them to stay away from sexual sin. Tell them not to eat animals that were choked to death. Tell them not to eat blood."

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

NoteIdols are statues that people prayed to as if they were gods. Meat was often given to an idol first, then sold or eaten at a party. Sexual sin means using your body in ways God says are wrong. Those things belong only between a husband and his wife. Jewish people were never allowed to eat blood. An animal that was choked still had its blood inside.

21"For a long time now, the law of Moses has been taught in every city. It is read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day. A synagogue is the building where Jews meet to worship. The Sabbath is their special day of rest."

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

NoteA synagogue is a building where Jewish people meet to learn and pray. The Sabbath is their special day each week for rest and worship.

17When we got to Jerusalem, the believers were happy to see us and welcomed us.

And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18The next day Paul went with us to see James. All the leaders of the church were there.

And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

NoteJames was the main leader of the church in Jerusalem.

19Paul said hello to them. Then he told them, one thing at a time, what God had done through his work among people who were not Jewish.

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, "Brother, you can see that many thousands of Jews now believe in Jesus. And they all care deeply about God's law.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

NoteGod's law means the rules God gave through Moses long ago. They told Jewish people how to live and how to worship.

21"People have told them that you teach Jews living in other countries to turn away from Moses. They say you tell them not to circumcise their children or keep our old customs.

And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

NoteMoses was the leader who brought God's laws to the Jewish people long ago. To circumcise a baby boy was to cut off a small bit of skin. It was a sign that he belonged to God's people.

22"So what should we do? They will surely hear that you have come.

What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

23"Do what we tell you. Four men here have made a special promise to God.

Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

NoteThis promise lasted for a set time. During it, a person did not cut his hair. At the end he brought gifts to God at the temple.

24"Take these men with you. Go through the washing ceremony with them, and pay what it costs. Then they can shave their heads. Everyone will see that the stories about you are not true. They will see that you keep God's law too.

Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

NoteThe washing ceremony made a person ready to enter the temple. Shaving the head showed the promise was finished. The gifts cost money, so paying for the men was a kind thing to do.

25"As for people who are not Jewish and believe in Jesus, we already sent them a letter. We told them to stay away from food that was offered to idols. They should also stay away from blood, from meat of animals that were choked, and from wrong kinds of sex."

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

NoteIdols are statues that people prayed to as gods. Jewish rules said not to eat meat with the blood still in it. An animal that is choked still has its blood inside.

26The next day Paul took the men and went through the washing ceremony with them. Then he went into the temple. He let people know what day the ceremony would be finished. On that day a gift would be offered for each man.

Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

NoteThe temple was the great building in Jerusalem where Jews worshiped God. Priests were the men who helped people worship there. An offering was a gift, often an animal, given to God at the temple.

3I received this message myself, and I passed it on to you first of all. Christ, God's chosen one, died to take away our sins. The holy writings said this would happen.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

Note"Christ" is a title, not a last name. It means the special king God chose. The "scriptures" were the holy writings, the older part of the Bible.

4He was buried. On the third day he was raised back to life. The holy writings said this too.

And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

NoteThe third day counts the day Jesus died as day one.

5Then he let Cephas see him. After that, his twelve close followers saw him.

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

NoteCephas was another name for Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends. "The twelve" were the twelve men Jesus picked to be with him.

6After that, more than five hundred believers saw him at one time. Most of them are still alive. Some have died.

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

Note"Fallen asleep" is a gentle way of saying they had died.

7After that, James saw him. Then all the apostles saw him. Apostles were the men Jesus sent out to teach.

After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

NoteThis James was Jesus' brother. "Apostles" means men sent out to tell people about Jesus.

8Last of all, he let me see him too. I was like a baby born at the wrong time.

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

NotePaul saw Jesus long after the others did. He says he was like a baby born at the wrong time. He means he joined the group in an odd way.

15But God had set me apart even before I was born. He called me because he is kind. When it pleased him, he acted.

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,

NoteThe King James says God "separated me from my mother's womb." That means God chose Paul before Paul was even born.

16He showed me who his Son is, so that I could tell others about him. I was sent to people who are not Jewish. I did not run to any person for advice.

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

NotePaul was Jewish. The King James word "heathen" means everyone who was not Jewish. Those people were called Gentiles. Paul's special job was to tell them about Jesus. "Flesh and blood" is an old way of saying any ordinary person.

17I did not go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me. Instead I went to Arabia. Later I came back to Damascus.

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

NotePeople said they went "up" to Jerusalem because the city sits high on hills. Jerusalem was where the first believers met. Arabia was dry desert land nearby. Damascus was a city where Paul first met believers.

18Three years later I went up to Jerusalem to talk with Peter. I stayed with him for fifteen days.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

NotePeter was one of the very first apostles and a leader of them. He had walked with Jesus and knew him well. Fifteen days is about two weeks.

19I did not see any of the other apostles. The only other one I saw was James, the Lord's brother.

But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

NoteJames was one of Jesus' younger brothers. He grew up in the same house. At first he did not believe Jesus, but later he led the believers in Jerusalem.

20God knows that what I am writing to you is true. I am not lying.

Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

NotePaul is making a strong promise here. It is like saying, "God is listening, and I am telling the truth."

21After that I went to the areas called Syria and Cilicia.

Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

NoteSyria and Cilicia were two areas north of Jerusalem. Paul's home town, Tarsus, was in Cilicia. So he went back near where he grew up.

22The churches in Judea that belong to Christ had never met me. They did not know my face.

And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

NoteJudea was the area around Jerusalem. It is where Jesus lived, died, and rose again.

23They only heard people say, "The man who used to hurt us now tells people the faith. He once tried to wipe it out."

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Note"The faith" was a name for the whole message about Jesus. It also meant the group of people who believed it.

24And they praised God because of me.

And they glorified God in me.

NoteThe King James says they "glorified God." To glorify God means to say good things about him. They were thanking God for changing Paul so much.

1Fourteen years later I went back to the city of Jerusalem. Barnabas came with me. I took Titus too.

Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

NoteJerusalem was the most important city for Jewish people. The first leaders of the believers met there. Barnabas and Titus were friends who traveled with Paul.

2I went because God showed me to go. I told them the good news I preach to Gentiles, people who are not Jewish. I talked privately with the leaders there. I did not want my work to be wasted.

And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

NoteGentiles means everyone in the world who is not Jewish. "Preach" means to stand up and tell people about God. The "good news" is the message that Jesus came to save people.

3Titus was with me, and he was Greek, not Jewish. Still, no one made him get circumcised.

But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

NoteCircumcision was a small cut made on a boy's body. It was a sign that his family belonged to God's people, the Jews. Some people said Gentiles had to do this too. Paul said no.

4This came up because some false brothers had sneaked in. They pretended to be friends. They came to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to tie us up with rules again.

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

NoteBelievers called each other brothers and sisters. So "false brothers" means men who only pretended to be believers.

5We did not give in to them, not even for a moment. We wanted the true good news to stay with you.

To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6Some men there were treated as very important. What they were makes no difference to me. God does not treat one person as better than another. Those leaders added nothing to my message.

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7Instead they saw something clearly. God had given me the job of telling the good news to people who are not Jewish. Peter had the job of telling it to Jewish people.

But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

NotePeter was one of Jesus' closest friends. He became a leader of the believers.

8God worked in Peter and sent him out to the Jewish people. The same God worked powerfully in me and sent me to the Gentiles.

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9James, Cephas, and John were seen as pillars, the leaders who held the group up. They saw the kind gift God had given me. They shook hands with me and Barnabas as partners. We would go to people who are not Jewish. They would go to Jewish people.

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

NoteCephas is another name for Peter. It is the same man. A pillar is a big stone post that holds up a roof. People called these three men pillars because the whole group leaned on them. Shaking right hands was a promise to work together.

10They asked us for only one thing. They wanted us to remember poor people. I was already glad to do that.

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

NoteMany believers in Jerusalem had very little food or money. Paul collected gifts from other towns to help them.