Acts 15
1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Lord’s followers that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom required by Moses, they could not be saved.
2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these people, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the apostles and church elders about the matter under discussion.
3 They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
The church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the followers.
4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.
On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the elders, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do.
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
Some of the Pharisees’ party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
The apostles and the church elders held a meeting to consider this question.
7 When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.
After much discussion, Peter rose and said: ‘You, my friends, know well that long ago God singled me out – that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the message of the good news, and become believers in Christ.
8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
He made no distinction between them and us, when he purified their hearts by their faith.
10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Why, then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
No, it is through the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved.’
12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as they listened to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account of all the signs and wonders which God had shown among the Gentiles through them.
13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. ‘Friends,’ he began, ‘hear what I have to say.
14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
Simon has described the manner in which God first visited the Gentiles, in order to take from among them a people to bear his name.
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
And that is in harmony with the words of the prophets, where they say –
16 ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up
“After this I will return; and I will rebuild the house of David which has fallen – its ruins I will rebuild, and will set it up once more;
17 that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
that so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord – even all the Gentiles on whom my name has been bestowed,
says the Lord, as he does these things, known from long ago.” (aiōn g165)
19 Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,
In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,
20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
but we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.
21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
For in every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the synagogues every Sabbath.’
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.
It was then decided by the apostles and the elders, with the assent of the whole church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leaders among the community.
23 They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.
They were bearers of the following letter – “The apostles, and the followers who are the church elders, send their greetings to the followers of the Lord of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;
As we had heard that some of our number had upset you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds – without instructions from us –
25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
We met and decided to choose certain men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden on you beyond these necessary conditions –
29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
That you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from impurity. If you guard yourselves against such things, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
So the bearers of this letter were sent on their way, and went down to Antioch. There they called a meeting of all the followers,
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
and delivered the letter, the reading of which caused great rejoicing by its encouraging contents.
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, further encouraged the them by many an address, and strengthened their faith.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the followers, and returned to those who had sent them.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Paul and Barnabas, however, remained in Antioch, where they taught and, with the help of many others, told the good news of the Lord’s message.
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the Lord’s followers in every town in which we have told the Lord’s message, and see how they are prospering.’
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
Barnabas wished to take with them John, whose other name was Mark;
38 But Paul did not think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and did not go with them to do the work.
but Paul felt that they ought not to take with them the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to their work.
39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
This caused such unpleasant feeling between them that they parted ways, Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
while Paul chose Silas for his companion and, after he had been committed by the followers to the gracious care of the Lord,
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches in the faith.
