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”;
But certain persons who had come down from Judaea tried to convince the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you 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;
Between these new comers and Paul and Barnabas there was no little disagreement and controversy, until at last it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some other brethren should go up to consult the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem on this matter.
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.
So they set out, being accompanied for a short distance by some other members of the Church; and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of the conversion of the Gentiles and inspired all the brethren with great joy.
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;
Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were cordially received by the Church, the Apostles, and the Elders; and they reported in detail all that God, working with them, had done.
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 certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."
6 And there were gathered together the apostles and the elders, to see about this matter,
Then the Apostles and Elders met to consider the 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;
and after there had been a long discussion Peter rose to his feet. "It is within your own knowledge," he said, "that God originally made choice among you that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the Message of the Good News, and believe.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 knows all hearts, gave His testimony in their favour by bestowing the Holy Spirit on them just as He did on us;
9 and also put no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith;
and He made no difference between us and them, in that He cleansed their hearts by their 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?
Now, therefore, why try an experiment upon God, by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 But through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.”
On the contrary, we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we, as well as they, shall be saved."
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 assembly remained silent while they listened to the statement made by Paul and Barnabas as to all the signs and marvels that God had done among the Gentiles through their instrumentality.
13 and after they were silent, James answered, saying, “Men, brothers, listen to me:
When they had finished speaking, James said, "Brethren, listen to me.
14 Simeon expounded how at first God looked on [us] to take a people out of [the] nations for His Name,
Symeon has related how God first looked graciously on the Gentiles to take from among them a People to be called by His name.
15 and to this the words of the Prophets agree, as it has been written:
And this is in harmony with the language of the Prophets, which says:
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—
"'"Afterwards I will return, and will rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will set it up 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.
In order that the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord--even all the nations which are called by My name,"
Says the Lord, who has been making these things known from ages long past.' (aiōn g165)
19 For this reason I judge: not to trouble those who turn back to God from the nations,
"My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning 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;
Yet let us send them written instructions to abstain from things polluted by connexion with idolatry, from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, 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 from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town, being read, as he is, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the various synagogues."
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—
Thereupon it was decided by the Apostles and Elders, with the approval of the whole Church, to choose suitable persons from among themselves and send them to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas. Judas, called Bar-sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, were selected,
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;
and they took with them the following letter: "The Apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the Gentile brethren throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.
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,
As we have been informed that certain persons who have gone out from among us have disturbed you by their teaching and have unsettled your minds, without having received any such instructions from us;
25 it seemed good to us, having come together with one accord, to send to you chosen men, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul—
we have unanimously decided to select certain men and send them to you in company with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have given up their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ—
who have endangered their very lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 we have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they are telling the same things by word.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who are themselves bringing you the same message by word of mouth.
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 has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no burden heavier than these necessary requirements--
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!”
You must abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear of these things, and it will be well with you. Farewell."
30 They then, indeed, having been let go, went to Antioch, and having brought the multitude together, delivered the letter,
They, therefore, having been solemnly sent, came down to Antioch, where they called together the whole assembly and delivered the letter.
31 and having read [it] they rejoiced for the consolation;
The people read it, and were delighted with the comfort it brought them.
32 Judas also and Silas, also being prophets themselves, through much discourse exhorted the brothers, and confirmed,
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also Prophets, gave them a long and encouraging talk, and strengthened them in the faith.
33 and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brothers to the apostles;
After spending some time there they received an affectionate farewell from the brethren to return to those who had sent them.
34 [[and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.]]
35 And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news—with many others also—the word of the LORD;
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and, in company with many others, telling the Good News of the Lord's Message.
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.”
After a while Paul said to Barnabas, "Suppose we now revisit the brethren in the various towns in which we have made known the Lord's Message--to see whether they are prospering!"
37 And Barnabas resolved to take with [them] John called Mark,
Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was 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;
while Paul deemed it undesirable to have as their companion one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.
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 arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.
40 and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brothers;
But Paul chose Silas as his travelling companion; and set out, after being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord;
41 and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.
and he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches.
