Acts 15
1 But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses’ custom, you cannot be saved."
And certain ones, descending from Judea, were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas made no small uprising against them, they decided that Paul and Barnabas, and some from the opposing side, should go up to the Apostles and priests in Jerusalem concerning this question.
3 So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
Therefore, being led by the church, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy among all the brothers.
4 Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them.
And when they had arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the Apostles and the elders, reporting what great things God had done with them.
5 But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses."
But some from the sect of the Pharisees, those who were believers, rose up saying, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and to be instructed to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider the matter;
And the Apostles and elders came together to take care of this matter.
7 and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said. "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe.
And after a great contention had taken place, Peter rose up and said to them: “Noble brothers, you know that, in recent days, God has chosen from among us, by my mouth, Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and to believe.
8 "And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us;
And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us.
9 "and he made no distinction between us and them, in cleansing their hearts by faith.
And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 "Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
Now therefore, why do you tempt God to impose a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 "On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved."
But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.”
12 Then the whole assembly remained silent, and listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
Then the entire multitude was silent. And they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, describing what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
13 When they had finished speaking, James said.
And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: “Noble brothers, listen to me.
14 "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name.
Simon has explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to his name.
15 "And this is in harmony with the language of the prophets, which says.
And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was written:
16 "After these things I will return, And I will rebuild David’s fallen tent; And I will build again its ruins, And I will set it up;
‘After these things, I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise it up,
17 "So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name,
so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, along with all the nations over whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, who does these things.’
To the Lord, his own work has been known from eternity. (aiōn g165)
19 "My judgment therefore, is against troubling those who turn to God from among the Gentiles;
Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed,
20 "but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood.
but instead that we write to them, that they should keep themselves from the defilement of idols, and from fornication, and from whatever has been suffocated, and from blood.
21 "For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town where he is read aloud, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the synagogues."
For Moses, from ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on every Sabbath.”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar- Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
Then it pleased the Apostles and elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, and Judas, who was surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, preeminent men among the brothers,
23 They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia;
what was written by their own hands: “The Apostles and elders, brothers, to those who are at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, brothers from the Gentiles, greetings.
24 "as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us;
Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment,
25 "we have unanimously decided to select certain men, and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul;
it pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul:
26 "men who have risked their very lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have handed over their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 "So we have sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth.
Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things.
28 "For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other than these necessary things:
29 "that you abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, and from tasting blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear from these things and it will be well with you. Farewell."
that you abstain from things immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication. You will do well to keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”
30 So they, when they had been despatched, went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole multitude together, they handed them the letter,
And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
31 and when they had read it they rejoiced at the comfort it brought.
And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a good counsel.
But Judas and Silas, being also prophets themselves, consoled the brothers with many words, and they were strengthened.
33 After spending some time there the brothers let them go with a greeting of peace to those who had sent them.
Then, after spending some more time there, they were dismissed with peace, by the brothers, to those who had sent them.
34 Silas, however, stayed with them.
But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. So Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.
35 Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in company with others.
And Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, with many others, teaching and evangelizing the Word of the Lord.
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let is go back and visit the brothers in every city in which we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they fare."
Then, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return to visit the brothers throughout all the cities in which we have preached the Word of the Lord, to see how they are.”
37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John, who was called Mark.
And Barnabas wanted to take John, who was surnamed Mark, with them also.
38 But Paul thought it unwise to take with them one who had deserted them to the Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to the work.
But Paul was saying that he ought not to be received, since he withdrew from them at Pamphylia, and he had not gone with them in the work.
39 So there arose a sharp irritation, so that they parted company; Barnabas taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus;
And there occurred a dissension, to such an extent that they departed from one another. And Barnabas, indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.
40 while Paul chose Silas, and set forth commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
Yet truly, Paul, choosing Silas, set out, being delivered by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches, instructing them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the elders.
