Acts 15
1 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers: “If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had a great dissension and debate with them, the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among the believers to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to discuss this issue.
3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
After being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria and brought great joy to all the brothers when they described in detail the conversion of the Gentiles.
4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done through them.
5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
But some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among us, that by the words of my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
Now then, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Then the entire assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell of all the signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles.
13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.
15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, just as it is written:
16 ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
‘After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and erect it again,
17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things
so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
All God's works are known to him from long ago. (aiōn g165)
19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Therefore my judgment is that we not create difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
but that we write to them, telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols, from fornication, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
For from generations of old, Moses has had those who preach him in every city, because he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
23 and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
and to send with them this letter they had written: “The apostles, elders, and brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
Since we have heard that certain men, whom we did not authorize, have gone out from us and troubled you with their words, unsettling your minds by saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law,
25 So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to send you men chosen from among us, along with our beloved 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 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in their own words.
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials:
29 You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
You must abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
So when these men had been sent off, they went to Antioch, and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
After spending some time there, they were sent off to the apostles in peace by the brothers.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, along with many others, the good news of the word of the Lord.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
After some days had gone by, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
Now Barnabas wanted to bring John, who was called Mark.
38 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
But Paul thought it best not to bring this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them in their work.
39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
So there arose a sharp disagreement, with the result that they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
but Paul chose Silas and departed, once he had been committed by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
