Acts 15
1 Then came downe certaine from Iudea, and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the maner of Moses, ye cannot be saued.
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 And when there was great dissension, and disputation by Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordeyned that Paul and Barnabas, and certaine other of them, should goe vp to Hierusalem vnto the Apostles and Elders about this question.
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 Thus being brought forth by ye Church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conuersion of the Gentiles, and they brought great ioy vnto all the brethren.
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 And when they were come to Hierusalem, they were receiued of the Church, and of the Apostles and Elders, and they declared what things God had done by 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 said they, certaine of the sect of the Pharises, which did beleeue, rose vp, saying, that it was needefull to circumcise them, and to commaund them to keepe the lawe 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 Then the Apostles and Elders came together to looke to this matter.
So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
7 And when there had bene great disputation, Peter rose vp, and said vnto them, Ye men and brethren, ye know that a good while ago, among vs God chose out me, that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the worde of the Gospel, and beleeue.
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 And God which knoweth the heartes, bare them witnesse, in giuing vnto them ye holy Ghost euen as he did vnto vs.
And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
9 And he put no difference betweene vs and them, after that by faith he had purified their heartes.
He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
10 Nowe therefore, why tempt ye God, to lay a yoke on the disciples neckes, which neither our fathers, nor we were able to beare?
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 But we beleeue, through the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ to be saued, euen as they doe.
On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and heard Barnabas and Paul, which told what signes and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.
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 And when they helde their peace, Iames answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken vnto me.
When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
14 Simeon hath declared, howe God first did visite the Gentiles, to take of them a people vnto his Name.
Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
15 And to this agree the woordes of the Prophets, as it is written,
The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 After this I will returne, and will builde againe the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe, and the ruines thereof will I build againe, and I will set it vp,
‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
17 That the residue of men might seeke after the Lord, and all the Gentiles vpon whom my Name is called, saith the Lord which doeth all these things.
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 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them of the Gentiles that are turned to God,
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 But that we send vnto them, that they abstaine themselues from filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from 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 Moses of olde time hath in euery citie them that preache him, seeing he is read in the Synagogues euery Sabbath day.
For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
22 Then it seemed good to the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church, to sende chosen men of their owne companie to Antiochia with Paul and Barnabas: to wit, Iudas whose surname was Barsabas and Silas, which were chiefe men among the brethren,
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 wrote letters by them after this maner, THE APOSTLES, and the Elders, and the brethren, vnto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antiochia, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, send greeting.
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 Forasmuch as we haue heard, that certaine which went out from vs, haue troubled you with wordes, and cumbred your mindes, saying, Ye must be circumcised and keepe the Lawe: to whom we gaue no such commandement,
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 It seemed therefore good to vs, when we were come together with one accord, to send chosen men vnto you, with our beloued Barnabas and Paul,
So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that haue giuen vp their liues for the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ.
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We haue therefore sent Iudas and Silas, which shall also tell you ye same things by mouth.
Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
28 For it seemed good to the holy Ghost, and to vs, to lay no more burden vpon you, then these necessary things,
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
29 That is, that ye abstaine from things offered to idoles, and blood, and that that is strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keepe your selues, ye shall doe well. Fare ye well.
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 Nowe when they were departed, they came to Antiochia, and after that they had assembled the multitude, they deliuered the Epistle.
So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
31 And when they had read it, they reioyced for the consolation.
When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
32 And Iudas and Silas being Prophets, exhorted the brethren with many wordes, and strengthened them.
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
33 And after they had taried there a space, they were let goe in peace of the brethren vnto the Apostles.
After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
34 Notwithstanding Silas thought good to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antiochia, teaching and preaching with many other, the worde of the Lord.
But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
36 But after certaine dayes, Paul said vnto Barnabas, Let vs returne, and visite our brethren in euery citie, where we haue preached the worde of the Lord, and see how they doe.
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 And Barnabas counselled to take with them Iohn, called Marke.
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
38 But Paul thought it not meete to take him vnto their companie, which departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the worke.
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 Then were they so stirred, that they departed asunder one from the other, so that Barnabas tooke Marke, and sailed vnto Cyprus.
Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
40 And Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended of the brethren vnto the grace of God.
but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, stablishing the Churches.
And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
