Acts 15
1 And certain men, who came down from Judea, taught the brothers, Unless ye will be circumcised in the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Now some that came down from Judea, taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised according to the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 Therefore, no small dissension and debate having developed with Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some other men from them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.
A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question.
3 Indeed therefore, having been helped for the trip by the congregation, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy to all the brothers.
They therefore, being brought forward on their way by the church, passed through Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
4 And after arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders. And they reported as many things as God did with them.
And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they told them all that God had done by them.
5 But some of the men who believed from the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
But there rose up, said they, some of the sect of the pharisees that believed, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and the elders were assembled together to see about this matter.
So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter.
7 And when much debate occurred, Peter having risen up, he said to them, Men, brothers, ye know that from past days among us, God chose the Gentiles to hear through my mouth the word of the good news, and to believe.
And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them, having given them the Holy Spirit, just as also to us.
And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us:
9 And he made not one distinction between both us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.
and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why do ye challenge God, to place a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on 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 to be saved, in the same way as those men also.
But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they.
12 And all the multitude kept silent, and they heard Barnabas and Paul describing how many signs and wonders God did among the Gentiles through them.
And all the multitude kept silence, and gave attention to Barnabas and Paul, relating what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they were quiet, James answered, saying, Men, brothers, hear me.
And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me.
14 Simeon described how God first came to help, to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.
---Simeon hath related, how God at first condescended to take out of the Gentiles a people to his name.
15 And to this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written,
And to this agree the words of the prophets,
16 After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen. And I will rebuild the things of it that have been demolished, and I will restore it,
as it is written, "After this will I return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will repair its ruins, and set it up again.
17 so that the rest of men might seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called upon them, says the Lord, who does these things.
That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things."
Now all his works are known unto God from the beginning of the world: (aiōn g165)
19 Therefore I judge not to trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,
wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them,
20 but to write to them, to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses from generations past, has from city to city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues on every sabbath.
For Moses hath had from ancient times those that preach him in every city, and is still read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.
22 Then it was decided by the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to send men chosen from them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
Then it seemed good to the apostles, and elders, and the whole church, to send men chose from among themselves to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas sirnamed Barsabas, and Silas; leading men among the brethren:
23 after writing by their hand these things: The apostles, and the elders, and the brothers, to those down in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, to the brothers of the Gentiles, greeting.
and they wrote by their hand, as follows, The apostles and elders and brethren here to the Gentile brethren which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting.
24 Since we have heard that certain men who went out from us have troubled you with words, disturbing your souls, saying to be circumcised, and to keep the law, to whom we did not command,
Forasmuch as we have heard, that some who went out from us, have troubled you by their discourses, unsettling your minds, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commission;
25 it was decided by us, having become unanimous, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved brethren Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have given over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, themselves also declaring the same things by speech.
We have therefore sent with them Judas and Silas, to tell you the same things also by word of mouth.
28 For it was decided by the Holy Spirit, and by us, to lay upon you not one greater burden than these necessary things:
For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things.
29 to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel.
30 Indeed therefore after being dismissed, they came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
Being thus dispatched they came to Antioch, and when they had assembled the brethren, they delivered the epistle.
31 And after reading it, they rejoiced for the encouragement.
And when they had read it, they rejoiced at the consolation it brought.
32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers by much speech, and strengthened them.
And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, exhorted and established: the brethren by many discourses.
33 And after spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brothers to the apostles.
And after some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to the apostles.
34 [This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.]
But it seemed good to Silas to continue there: Paul also and Barnabas stayed at Antioch,
35 But Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching good news, the word of the Lord, with many others also.
teaching and preaching, with many others likewise, the word of the Lord.
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, After returning, surely we could help our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, how they fare.
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit our brethren in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are.
37 And Barnabas wanted to take along John called Mark.
And Barnabas proposed to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark.
38 But Paul thought it not worthy to bring along this man who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and not having gone with them to the work.
But Paul did not think proper to take him with them, who left them in Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 Therefore a provocation developed, so as for them to separate from each other, and Barnabas to sail for Cyprus, after taking Mark,
And there was a sharp dispute, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus: but Paul chose Silas and departed,
40 but Paul, having selected Silas, went forth after being delivered to the grace of God by the brothers.
being recommended to the grace of God.
41 And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the congregations.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches.
