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 started 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.
Well this provoked serious dissension and argument between Paul and Barnabas and them, so Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with certain others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to 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.
So being sent on their way by the congregation, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused 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.
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the congregation and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that 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 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.”
6 The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
So the apostles and the elders came together to consider 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.
When there had been plenty of discussion, Peter got up and said to them: “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear 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 the heart-knowing God acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, 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.
and He made no distinction 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 test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that 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.”
Rather, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as they.”
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 whole assembly kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the ethnic nations through them.
13 After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
Now when they finished, James reacted saying: “Men, 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.
Simeon has described how God first intervened to extract from the Gentiles a people for His name.
15 This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just 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 these things I will return, and I will rebuild David's tent, the fallen one; yes, I will rebuild its ruins and 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 mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles—the ones, that is, upon whom my name has been called—says the Lord who does all these things.’
All His works are known to God from eternity. (aiōn g165)
19 So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.
Therefore I judge that we should not create difficulty for those who are turning to God from among the ethnic nations,
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 that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled, 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 from ancient generations Moses has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues 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 the elders, with the whole congregation, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas (the one called Barsabas) and Silas, leading 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:
They wrote by their hand the following: “The apostles and the elders and the brothers, to the Gentile brothers 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!
Since we have heard that some who went out from among us have disturbed you with words, unsettling your souls, saying that you must be circumcised and keep the Law—to whom we gave no such authorization—
25 So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul,
it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men to send to you 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 sake 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.
So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also confirm these things by word of mouth.
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, to place no greater burden upon you 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.”
to abstain from things offered to idols, from ‘blood’, from anything strangled and from fornication; it will be in your own best interest to keep away 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.
So when they were sent off they came to Antioch, and gathering the crowd they delivered the letter.
31 After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.
When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.
Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.
After some time, they were released with peace from the brothers to the apostles.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.
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 return now and visit our brothers in each city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.
Now Barnabas resolved to take John (the one called Mark) along as well.
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 insisted on not taking someone who had deserted them in Pamphilia and not gone with them to the work.
39 They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
Well the contention became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
40 Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord.
while Paul chose Silas and set out, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations.
