Acts 15
1 And, certain persons, coming down from Judea, began to teach the brethren—Except ye be circumcised according to the custom 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 And, when Paul and Barnabas had had no little dissension and discussion with them, it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and certain others from among them should go up unto the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem concerning 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 set forward by the Assembly, began passing through Phoenicia and Samaria, fully relating the conversion of them of the nations, and were causing great joy unto 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 And, having arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Assembly and the Apostles and the Elders; and they recounted all things God had done with 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 there [had] stood forth some of those who, from the sect of Pharisees, had believed, saying—It is needful to be circumcising them, also to charge them to be keeping 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 And the Apostles and Elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7 And, when much discussion had arisen, Peter standing up, said unto them—Brethren! Ye yourselves, well know that, in days long past, amongst you, God chose that, through my mouth, the nations should hear the word of the glad tidings, 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, the heart-observing God, bare witness, —unto them, giving the Holy Spirit, just as, even unto 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 distinction at all betwixt us and them, by their faith, purifying their hearts.
He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now, therefore, why are ye proving God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which, neither our fathers, nor we, have been 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, through the favour of the Lord Jesus, we believe we shall be saved, in like manner as, even they.
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 And all the throng held their peace, and began to hearken unto Barnabas and Paul relating how many signs and wonders God had done among the nations, through 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 And, after they held their peace, James answered, saying—Brethren! hearken unto me.
When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Symeon, hath fully told how God, first visited, to take out of the nations, 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, with this, agree the words of the prophets, according as it is written—
The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, just as it is written:
16 After these things, will I return, and will rebuild the tent of David that hath fallen, and, the ruins thereof, will I rebuild, and will set it up 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 residues of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations upon whom my name hath been called, saith the Lord that doeth 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 Wherefore, I, judge, not to be troubling them who, from the nations, are turning unto God;
Therefore my judgment is that we not create difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but to write unto them, to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, 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, out of ancient generation, hath, in every city, them who proclaim him; seeing, that in the synagogues, every sabbath, he is read.
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, seemed it good unto the Apostles and the Elders with the whole Assembly to send chosen men from among them unto Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, —even Judas who is called Barsabbas, and Silas, men taking a lead 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 through their hand—The Apostles and the Elder Brethren, unto the brethren throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, who are from among the nations, wish joy!
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 Inasmuch as we had heard that, certain from among us, had troubled you with words, dismantling your souls, —unto whom we had given no instructions,
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 seemed good unto us, coming to be of one accord, that we should choose men and send them unto you, 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 given up their lives in behalf of 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, who also, themselves, by word of mouth, can 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 unto the Holy Spirit and unto us, no greater burden, to be laying upon you, than these necessary things: —
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials:
29 To be abstaining from idol sacrifices, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication, —From which, if ye keep yourselves, ye shall prosper. Fare ye well.
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, therefore, being let go, came down unto Antioch; and, having gathered together the throng, 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 read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.
When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32 And, both Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, with much discourse, consoled and confirmed the brethren.
Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 And, when they had spent a time, they were let go, in peace, from the brethren, unto them who had sent them.
After spending some time there, they were sent off to the apostles in peace by the brothers.
35 But, Paul and Barnabas, tarried in Antioch, teaching and telling the joyful tidings, —along with many others also, —of 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 And, after certain days, Paul, said unto Barnabas—Let us now return, and visit the brethren in every city in which we have declared the word of the Lord, and see how they are.
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 And, Barnabas, was minded to take with them John also, called Mark;
Now Barnabas wanted to bring John, who was called Mark.
38 but Paul deemed it right, as to him who had withdrawn from them, back from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them unto the work, not to be taking with them, this, man.
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 And there arose an angry feeling, so that they separated one from the other: and, Barnabas, taking Mark, sailed away unto 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 whereas, Paul, choosing Silas, went forth, committed unto the favour of the Lord by the brethren,
but Paul chose Silas and departed, once he had been committed by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 and proceeded to pass through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
