Acts 15
1 And certain ones, descending from Judea, were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to 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 made no small uprising against them, they decided that Paul and Barnabas, and some from the opposing side, should go up to the Apostles and priests in Jerusalem concerning 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 Therefore, being led by the church, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy among 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 And when they had arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the Apostles and the elders, reporting what great things 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 from the sect of the Pharisees, those who were believers, rose up saying, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and to be instructed 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 And the Apostles and elders came together to take care of this matter.
The apostles and the church elders held a meeting to consider this question.
7 And after a great contention had taken place, Peter rose up and said to them: “Noble brothers, you know that, in recent days, God has chosen from among us, by my mouth, Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and to 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 And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as 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 And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying 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 to impose a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been 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 by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.”
No, it is through the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved.”
12 Then the entire multitude was silent. And they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, describing what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles 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 And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: “Noble brothers, listen to me.
After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. “Friends,” he began, “hear what I have to say.
14 Simon has explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to 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 And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was written:
And that is in harmony with the words of the prophets, where they say –
16 ‘After these things, I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise 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 so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, along with all the nations over whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, who does 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 Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed,
In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,
20 but instead that we write to them, that they should keep themselves from the defilement of idols, and from fornication, and from whatever has been suffocated, 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 ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on 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 pleased the Apostles and elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, and Judas, who was surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, preeminent 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 what was written by their own hands: “The Apostles and elders, brothers, to those who are at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, brothers from the Gentiles, 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 Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, 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 pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most 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 handed over their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things.
We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing.
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other 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 immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication. You will do well to keep yourselves from these things. 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 And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
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 And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation.
and delivered the letter, the reading of which caused great rejoicing by its encouraging contents.
32 But Judas and Silas, being also prophets themselves, consoled the brothers with many words, and they were strengthened.
Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, further encouraged the them by many an address, and strengthened their faith.
33 Then, after spending some more time there, they were dismissed with peace, by the brothers, to those who had sent them.
After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the followers, and returned to those who had sent them.
34 But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. So Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.
35 And Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, with many others, teaching and evangelizing the Word of the Lord.
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 Then, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return to visit the brothers throughout all the cities in which we have preached the Word of the Lord, to see how they are.”
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 And Barnabas wanted to take John, who was surnamed Mark, with them also.
Barnabas wished to take with them John, whose other name was Mark;
38 But Paul was saying that he ought not to be received, since he withdrew from them at Pamphylia, and he had not gone with them in 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 And there occurred a dissension, to such an extent that they departed from one another. And Barnabas, indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.
This caused such unpleasant feeling between them that they parted ways, Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus,
40 Yet truly, Paul, choosing Silas, set out, being delivered 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 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches, instructing them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the elders.
started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches in the faith.
