Acts 15
1 Then some men arrived from Judea who started teaching the believers, “Unless you're circumcised according to the rules set down by Moses, you can't be saved.”
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.”
2 Paul and Barnabas had many arguments and debates with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go to Jerusalem and talk to the apostles and leaders there about this issue.
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.
3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they explained how foreigners were being converted, which made all the believers very happy.
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.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church members, the apostles, and the elders. They explained everything God had done through them.
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.
5 But they were opposed by some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee faction. They said, “These converts have to be circumcised, and instructed to observe the law of Moses.”
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.”
6 The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
7 After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me from among you so that the foreigners could hear the message of good news and trust in Jesus.
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.
8 God, who knows thewhat we're thinking, has shown that he accepts them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.
And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
9 He doesn't make any distinction between us and them—he cleansed their thoughts as they trusted in him.
He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
10 So why do you want to oppose God and put a burden on the believers that our fathers weren't able to bear, and we can't either?
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?
11 We're convinced that we're saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.”
On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 Everyone listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they explained the miraculous signs that God had performed through them among the foreigners.
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.
13 After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
14 Simon has described how God first revealed his concern for the foreigners by taking from them a people committed to him.
Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
15 This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,
The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 ‘In the future I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen house of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it straight.
‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
17 I will do this so that those who are left may come to the Lord, including the foreigners who call on my name.
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
that have been known for ages.’ (aiōn g165)
19 So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 We should write to them and tell them to avoid food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, meat of animals that have been strangled, and from consuming blood.
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.
21 For the law of Moses has been taught in every town for a long, long time—it's read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
22 Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, decided it would be good to choose some representatives and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers,
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,
23 and sent them with this letter: “Greetings from us, the apostles and elders and brothers, to the non-Jewish brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
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.
24 We have heard that some from our group have confused you with their teachings, causing you trouble. We certainly didn't tell them to do this!
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.
25 So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul,
So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 So we are sending to you Judas and Silas who can verbally confirm what we're saying.
Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
28 It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements.
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
29 You should avoid: anything sacrificed to idols; blood; meat from strangled animals; and sexual immorality. You will do well to observe these requirements. God bless you.”
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.
30 The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter.
So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
31 After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.
When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
33 After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.
After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the believers in every town where we shared the word of the Lord, and see how they're doing.”
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.”
37 Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
38 But Paul didn't think it was a good idea to take him with them, since he'd left them in Pamphylia and hadn't continued working with them.
But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
39 They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
40 Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord.
but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
