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.”
And certain ones, descending from Judea, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.”
6 The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
And the Apostles and elders came together to take care of 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.
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.
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 hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us.
9 He doesn't make any distinction between us and them—he cleansed their thoughts as they trusted in him.
And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying 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 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?
11 We're convinced that we're saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.”
But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.”
12 Everyone listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they explained the miraculous signs that God had performed through them among the foreigners.
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.
13 After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: “Noble 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 explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to his name.
15 This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,
And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was 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 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,
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 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.’
To the Lord, his own work has been known from eternity. (aiōn g165)
19 So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.
Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed,
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.
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.
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, from ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read 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 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,
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:
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.
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!
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,
25 So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul,
it pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul:
26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have handed over their lives on behalf of 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 have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things.
28 It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements.
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other than these necessary things:
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.”
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.”
30 The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter.
And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
31 After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.
And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation.
32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.
But Judas and Silas, being also prophets themselves, consoled the brothers with many words, and they were strengthened.
33 After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.
Then, after spending some more time there, they were dismissed with peace, by the brothers, to those who had sent them.
But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. So Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
And Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, with many others, teaching and evangelizing 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.”
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.”
37 Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.
And Barnabas wanted to take John, who was surnamed Mark, with them also.
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 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.
39 They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
And there occurred a dissension, to such an extent that they departed from one another. And Barnabas, indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.
40 Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord.
Yet truly, Paul, choosing Silas, set out, being delivered by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches, instructing them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the elders.
