Acts 15
1 But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Lord’s followers that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom required by Moses, they could not be saved.
Καί τινες κατελθόντες ἀπὸ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐδίδασκον τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ (περιτμηθῆτε *N(k)O*) τῷ ἔθει (τῷ *no*) Μωϋσέως, οὐ δύνασθε σωθῆναι.
2 This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these people, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the apostles and church elders about the matter under discussion.
γενομένης (δὲ *N(k)O*) στάσεως καὶ (ζητήσεως *N(k)O*) οὐκ ὀλίγης τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Βαρναβᾷ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἔταξαν ἀναβαίνειν Παῦλον καὶ Βαρναβᾶν καί τινας ἄλλους ἐξ αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ πρεσβυτέρους εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ περὶ τοῦ ζητήματος τούτου.
3 The church, therefore, sent them on their journey, and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling the story of the conversion of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the followers.
Οἱ μὲν οὖν προπεμφθέντες ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας διήρχοντο τήν (τε *no*) Φοινίκην καὶ Σαμάρειαν ἐκδιηγούμενοι τὴν ἐπιστροφὴν τῶν ἐθνῶν καὶ ἐποίουν χαρὰν μεγάλην πᾶσιν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς.
4 On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the elders, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do.
παραγενόμενοι δὲ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ (παρεδέχθησαν ἀπὸ *N(k)O*) τῆς ἐκκλησίας καὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἀνήγγειλάν τε ὅσα ὁ θεὸς ἐποίησεν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν.
5 Some of the Pharisees’ party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.
Ἐξανέστησαν δέ τινες τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς αἱρέσεως τῶν Φαρισαίων πεπιστευκότες, λέγοντες ὅτι δεῖ περιτέμνειν αὐτοὺς παραγγέλλειν τε τηρεῖν τὸν νόμον Μωϋσέως.
6 The apostles and the church elders held a meeting to consider this question.
Συνήχθησάν (τε *N(k)O*) οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἰδεῖν περὶ τοῦ λόγου τούτου.
7 After much discussion, Peter rose and said: “You, my friends, know well that long ago God singled me out – that through my lips the Gentiles should hear the message of the good news, and become believers in Christ.
πολλῆς δὲ (ζητήσεως *N(k)O*) γενομένης, ἀναστὰς Πέτρος εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἀφ᾽ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων ἐν (ὑμῖν *N(K)O*) ἐξελέξατο ὁ θεὸς διὰ τοῦ στόματός μου ἀκοῦσαι τὰ ἔθνη τὸν λόγον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου καὶ πιστεῦσαι.
8 Now God, who reads all hearts, declared his acceptance of the Gentiles, by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
καὶ ὁ καρδιογνώστης θεὸς ἐμαρτύρησεν αὐτοῖς δοὺς (αὐτοῖς *k*) τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καθὼς καὶ ἡμῖν·
9 He made no distinction between them and us, when he purified their hearts by their faith.
καὶ οὐθὲν διέκρινεν μεταξὺ ἡμῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν τῇ πίστει καθαρίσας τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν.
10 Why, then, do you now provoke God, by putting on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our ancestors nor we were able to bear?
νῦν οὖν τί πειράζετε τὸν θεὸν ἐπιθεῖναι ζυγὸν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον τῶν μαθητῶν, ὃν οὔτε οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν οὔτε ἡμεῖς ἰσχύσαμεν βαστάσαι;
11 No, it is through the loving kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved.”
ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ (Χριστοῦ *K*) πιστεύομεν σωθῆναι καθ᾽ ὃν τρόπον κἀκεῖνοι. κἀκεῖνοι.
12 Every voice in the assembly was hushed, as they listened to Barnabas and Paul, while they gave an account of all the signs and wonders which God had shown among the Gentiles through them.
ἐσίγησεν δὲ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος καὶ ἤκουον Βαρναβᾶ καὶ Παύλου ἐξηγουμένων ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν δι᾽ αὐτῶν.
13 After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. “Friends,” he began, “hear what I have to say.
Μετὰ δὲ τὸ σιγῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπεκρίθη Ἰάκωβος λέγων· ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἀκούσατέ μου.
14 Simon has described the manner in which God first visited the Gentiles, in order to take from among them a people to bear his name.
Συμεὼν ἐξηγήσατο καθὼς πρῶτον ὁ θεὸς ἐπεσκέψατο λαβεῖν ἐξ ἐθνῶν λαὸν (ἐπὶ *k*) τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ·
15 And that is in harmony with the words of the prophets, where they say –
καὶ τούτῳ συμφωνοῦσιν οἱ λόγοι τῶν προφητῶν καθὼς γέγραπται·
16 ‘After this I will return; and I will rebuild the house of David which has fallen – its ruins I will rebuild, and will set it up once more;
μετὰ ταῦτα ἀναστρέψω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὴν σκηνὴν Δαυὶδ τὴν πεπτωκυῖαν καὶ τὰ (κατεσκαμμένα *NK(o)*) αὐτῆς ἀνοικοδομήσω καὶ ἀνορθώσω αὐτήν·
17 that so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord – even all the Gentiles on whom my name has been bestowed,
ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν κύριον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ἐφ᾽ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς, λέγει κύριος (ὁ *ko*) ποιῶν ταῦτα (πάντα *K*)
γνωστὰ ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος (ἐστιν τῷ θεῷ πάντα τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. *K*) (aiōn g165)
19 In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,
διὸ ἐγὼ κρίνω μὴ παρενοχλεῖν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπιστρέφουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν,
20 but we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.
ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι (ἀπὸ *k*) τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος.
21 For in every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
Μωϋσῆς γὰρ ἐκ γενεῶν ἀρχαίων κατὰ πόλιν τοὺς κηρύσσοντας αὐτὸν ἔχει ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς κατὰ πᾶν σάββατον ἀναγινωσκόμενος.
22 It was then decided by the apostles and the elders, with the assent of the whole church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leaders among the community.
Τότε ἔδοξεν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις σὺν ὅλῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐκλεξαμένους ἄνδρας ἐξ αὐτῶν πέμψαι εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν σὺν τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ Βαρναβᾷ, Ἰούδαν τὸν (καλούμενον *N(k)O*) Βαρσαββᾶν καὶ Σιλᾶν, ἄνδρας ἡγουμένους ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς,
23 They were bearers of the following letter – ‘The apostles, and the followers who are the church elders, send their greetings to the followers of the Lord of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν (τάδε· *k*) Οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι (καὶ οἱ *K*) ἀδελφοὶ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν καὶ Συρίαν καὶ Κιλικίαν ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν χαίρειν.
24 As we had heard that some of our number had upset you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds – without instructions from us –
Ἐπειδὴ ἠκούσαμεν ὅτι τινὲς ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐξελθόντες ἐτάραξαν ὑμᾶς λόγοις ἀνασκευάζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν (λέγοντες περιτέμνεσθαι καὶ τηρεῖν τὸν νόμον, *K*) οἷς οὐ διεστειλάμεθα,
25 We met and decided to choose certain men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,
ἔδοξεν ἡμῖν γενομένοις ὁμοθυμαδὸν (ἐκλεξαμένοις *N(k)O*) ἄνδρας πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς σὺν τοῖς ἀγαπητοῖς ἡμῶν Βαρναβᾷ καὶ Παύλῳ,
26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
ἀνθρώποις παραδεδωκόσιν τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
27 We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing.
ἀπεστάλκαμεν οὖν Ἰούδαν καὶ Σιλᾶν, καὶ αὐτοὺς διὰ λόγου ἀπαγγέλλοντας τὰ αὐτά.
28 We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden on you beyond these necessary conditions –
ἔδοξεν γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι (τῷ *no*) ἁγίῳ καὶ ἡμῖν μηδὲν πλέον ἐπιτίθεσθαι ὑμῖν βάρος πλὴν τούτων τῶν ἐπάναγκες
29 That you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from impurity. If you guard yourselves against such things, it will be well with you. Farewell.’
ἀπέχεσθαι εἰδωλοθύτων καὶ αἵματος καὶ (πνικτῶν *N(k)O*) καὶ πορνείας· ἐξ ὧν διατηροῦντες ἑαυτοὺς εὖ πράξετε. ἔρρωσθε.
30 So the bearers of this letter were sent on their way, and went down to Antioch. There they called a meeting of all the followers,
Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἀπολυθέντες (κατῆλθον *N(k)O*) εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ συναγαγόντες τὸ πλῆθος ἐπέδωκαν τὴν ἐπιστολήν.
31 and delivered the letter, the reading of which caused great rejoicing by its encouraging contents.
ἀναγνόντες δὲ ἐχάρησαν ἐπὶ τῇ παρακλήσει.
32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, further encouraged the them by many an address, and strengthened their faith.
Ἰούδας τε καὶ Σιλᾶς, καὶ αὐτοὶ προφῆται ὄντες, διὰ λόγου πολλοῦ παρεκάλεσαν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ ἐπεστήριξαν.
33 After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the followers, and returned to those who had sent them.
ποιήσαντες δὲ χρόνον ἀπελύθησαν μετ᾽ εἰρήνης ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πρὸς τοὺς (ἀποστείλαντας *N(K)O*) (αὐτούς. *no*)
(ἔδοξεν δὲ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἐπιμεῖναι αὐτοῦ. *K*)
35 Paul and Barnabas, however, remained in Antioch, where they taught and, with the help of many others, told the good news of the Lord’s message.
Παῦλος δὲ καὶ Βαρναβᾶς διέτριβον ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ διδάσκοντες καὶ εὐαγγελιζόμενοι μετὰ καὶ ἑτέρων πολλῶν τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου.
36 Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the Lord’s followers in every town in which we have told the Lord’s message, and see how they are prospering.”
Μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας εἶπεν πρὸς Βαρναβᾶν Παῦλος· ἐπιστρέψαντες δὴ ἐπισκεψώμεθα τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς (ἡμῶν *k*) κατὰ πόλιν πᾶσαν ἐν αἷς κατηγγείλαμεν τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου, πῶς ἔχουσιν.
37 Barnabas wished to take with them John, whose other name was Mark;
Βαρναβᾶς δὲ (ἐβούλετο *N(k)O*) συμπαραλαβεῖν (καὶ *no*) τὸν Ἰωάννην τὸν καλούμενον Μᾶρκον·
38 but Paul felt that they ought not to take with them the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to their work.
Παῦλος δὲ ἠξίου τὸν ἀποστάντα ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Παμφυλίας καὶ μὴ συνελθόντα αὐτοῖς εἰς τὸ ἔργον μὴ (συμπαραλαμβάνειν *N(k)(o)*) τοῦτον.
39 This caused such unpleasant feeling between them that they parted ways, Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus,
Ἐγένετο (δὲ *N(k)O*) παροξυσμός, ὥστε ἀποχωρισθῆναι αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλων, τόν τε Βαρναβᾶν παραλαβόντα τὸν Μᾶρκον ἐκπλεῦσαι εἰς Κύπρον.
40 while Paul chose Silas for his companion and, after he had been committed by the followers to the gracious care of the Lord,
Παῦλος δὲ ἐπιλεξάμενος Σιλᾶν ἐξῆλθεν παραδοθεὶς τῇ χάριτι τοῦ (κυρίου *N(K)O*) ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν.
41 started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches in the faith.
διήρχετο δὲ τὴν Συρίαν καὶ (τὴν *no*) Κιλικίαν ἐπιστηρίζων τὰς ἐκκλησίας.
