Acts 15
1 And certain having come down from Judea, were teaching the brothers, “If you are not circumcised after the custom of Moses, you are not able to be saved”;
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.
2 there having been, therefore, not a little dissension and debate to Paul and Barnabas with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up to the apostles and elders to Jerusalem about this question;
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.
3 they indeed, then, having been sent forward by the assembly, were passing through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brothers.
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.
4 And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders; they also declared as many things as God did with them;
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.
5 and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, “It is required to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the Law of Moses.”
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.
6 And there were gathered together the apostles and the elders, to see about this matter,
Then the apostles and presbyters were assembled to consider of this matter.
7 and there having been much disputing, Peter having risen up said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that from former days God made choice among us, through my mouth, for the nations to hear the word of the good news, and to believe;
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.
8 and the heart-knowing God bore them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us,
And God, who is the discerner of the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as to us;
9 and also put no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith;
and made no difference betwixt either us or them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 now, therefore, why do you tempt God, to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
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?
11 But through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.”
But we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same way as they.
12 And all the multitude kept silence and were listening to Barnabas and Paul expounding as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them;
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.
13 and after they were silent, James answered, saying, “Men, brothers, listen to me:
Now when they ceased speaking, James replied, saying, Men and brethren, hear me:
14 Simeon expounded how at first God looked on [us] to take a people out of [the] nations for His Name,
Simon hath fully related, how at first God graciously looked upon the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
15 and to this the words of the Prophets agree, as it has been written:
And in accord with this are the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the dwelling place of David that has fallen down, And I will rebuild its ruins, And will set it upright—
“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:
17 That the remnant of men may seek after the LORD, And all the nations on whom My Name has been called, Says the LORD, who is doing all these things.
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.”
Known unto God from the beginning are all his works. (aiōn g165)
19 For this reason I judge: not to trouble those who turn back to God from the nations,
Therefore I am decided, that we give no unnecessary disquietude to those who from the heathen have turned to God:
20 but to write to them to abstain from the defilements of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing, and the blood;
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.
21 for Moses has those preaching him from former generations in every city—being read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
For Moses for ages past in every city hath those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas chosen men out of themselves—Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers—
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;
23 having written through their hand thus: “The apostles, and the elders, and the brothers, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brothers, who [are] of the nations, greeting;
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:
24 seeing we have heard that some having gone forth from us troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying to be circumcised and to keep the Law, to whom we gave no charge,
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:
25 it seemed good to us, having come together with one accord, to send to you chosen men, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul—
it hath seemed fit to us, assembled unanimously, to send unto you select men with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have given up their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ—
men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 we have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they are telling the same things by word.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, and they by word of mouth will tell you the same things.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no more burden on you, except these necessary things:
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;
29 to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; keeping yourselves from which, you will do well; be strong!”
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.
30 They then, indeed, having been let go, went to Antioch, and having brought the multitude together, delivered the letter,
They then being thus dispatched, came to Antioch: and assembling the multitude, they delivered the letter:
31 and having read [it] they rejoiced for the consolation;
and when they had read it, they rejoiced in the consolation of it.
32 Judas also and Silas, also being prophets themselves, through much discourse exhorted the brothers, and confirmed,
Then Judas and Silas, being also themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren, in many a discourse, and established them.
33 and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brothers to the apostles;
And having stayed their time, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to the apostles.
34 [[and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.]]
However Silas thought proper to abide there.
35 And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news—with many others also—the word of the LORD;
Paul also and Barnabas abode at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, the word of the Lord.
36 and after certain days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Having turned back again, we may look after our brothers, in every city in which we have preached the word of the LORD—how they are.”
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.
37 And Barnabas resolved to take with [them] John called Mark,
Now Barnabas had resolved to take with him John, whose surname is Mark.
38 and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work;
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.
39 there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, sailed to Cyprus,
So there grew up a sudden quarrel, insomuch that they separated from each other: and Barnabas, taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus:
40 and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brothers;
but Paul selecting Silas, departed, being commended by the brethren to the favour of God.
41 and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.
And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
