Acts 15
1 AND certain persons coming down from Judea taught the brethren, That if ye are not circumcised according to the ordinances of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers: “If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 There being therefore no small contention and dispute maintained by Paul and Barnabas against them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of their body, should go up to the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem, for the decision of this question.
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had a great dissension and debate with them, the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among the believers to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to discuss this issue.
3 They therefore being sent on their way by the church, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, giving a particular narrative of the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
After being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria and brought great joy to all the brothers when they described in detail the conversion of the Gentiles.
4 Then when they arrived at Jerusalem, they were cordially received by the church, and the apostles and presbyters, and they related how great things God had done by them.
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done through them.
5 But up rose some of the pharisaical sect, who professed the faith, insisting, That it was necessary to circumcise them, and to enjoin them to observe the law of Moses.
But some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 Then the apostles and presbyters were assembled to consider of this matter.
So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7 When after much dispute, Peter arose, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know that a considerable time ago God chose among us, by my mouth, that the Gentiles should hear the gospel-word, and believe.
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among us, that by the words of my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who is the discerner of the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as to us;
And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9 and made no difference betwixt either us or them, purifying their hearts by faith.
He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Why then now tempt ye God, by imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Now then, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 But we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same way as they.
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 Then the whole multitude kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul, relating how great signs and miracles God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Then the entire assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell of all the signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles.
13 Now when they ceased speaking, James replied, saying, Men and brethren, hear me:
When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simon hath fully related, how at first God graciously looked upon the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.
15 And in accord with this are the words of the prophets; as it is written,
The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, just as it is written:
16 “After this will I return, and build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen; and re-edify what hath been dug up from the foundation, and will set it upright again:
‘After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and erect it again,
17 that the residue of men may diligently seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles, among whom my name is invoked, even among them, saith the Lord, who doth all these things.”
so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
All God's works are known to him from long ago. (aiōn g165)
19 Therefore I am decided, that we give no unnecessary disquietude to those who from the heathen have turned to God:
Therefore my judgment is that we not create difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idol sacrifices, and from whoredom, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
but that we write to them, telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols, from fornication, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses for ages past in every city hath those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.
For from generations of old, Moses has had those who preach him in every city, because he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it was determined by the apostles and presbyters with the whole church, to send select men from themselves unto Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren;
Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
23 writing a letter by their hand, in these words: The apostles and presbyters and the brethren, to the brethren from among the Gentiles which are at Antioch, and in Syria, and Cilicia, greeting:
and to send with them this letter they had written: “The apostles, elders, and brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain persons who went out from us have disturbed you with discourses, unsettling your minds, insisting, that you should be circumcised, and observe the law: to whom we gave no such charge:
Since we have heard that certain men, whom we did not authorize, have gone out from us and troubled you with their words, unsettling your minds by saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law,
25 it hath seemed fit to us, assembled unanimously, to send unto you select men with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to send you men chosen from among us, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, and they by word of mouth will tell you the same things.
Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in their own words.
28 For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no other burden except these things which are of absolute necessity;
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials:
29 that ye abstain from eating whatever is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from whoredom: from which things carefully preserving yourselves, ye shall do well. Farewell.
You must abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 They then being thus dispatched, came to Antioch: and assembling the multitude, they delivered the letter:
So when these men had been sent off, they went to Antioch, and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31 and when they had read it, they rejoiced in the consolation of it.
When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32 Then Judas and Silas, being also themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren, in many a discourse, and established them.
Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 And having stayed their time, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to the apostles.
After spending some time there, they were sent off to the apostles in peace by the brothers.
34 However Silas thought proper to abide there.
35 Paul also and Barnabas abode at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, the word of the Lord.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, along with many others, the good news of the word of the Lord.
36 Then after certain days said Paul to Barnabas, Let us now return and visit our brethren in every city among whom we have preached the word of the Lord, that we may see how they hold on.
After some days had gone by, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 Now Barnabas had resolved to take with him John, whose surname is Mark.
Now Barnabas wanted to bring John, who was called Mark.
38 But Paul did not think him a fit person to take with them, who had withdrawn from them from Pamphylia, and no longer went with them to the service.
But Paul thought it best not to bring this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them in their work.
39 So there grew up a sudden quarrel, insomuch that they separated from each other: and Barnabas, taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus:
So there arose a sharp disagreement, with the result that they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus,
40 but Paul selecting Silas, departed, being commended by the brethren to the favour of God.
but Paul chose Silas and departed, once he had been committed by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
