Acts 15
1 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.”
Now some that came down from Judea, taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised according to the law of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 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.
A dissension therefore arising, and Paul and Barnabas having no small dispute with them, it was resolved that Paul and Barnabas, and some others, should go up to the apostles and elders at Jerusalem about this question.
3 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.
They therefore, being brought forward on their way by the church, passed through Phenicia and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
4 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.
And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they told them all that God had done by them.
5 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.”
But there rose up, said they, some of the sect of the pharisees that believed, saying, that it was necessary to circumcise them, and enjoin them to keep the law of Moses.
6 So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
So the apostles and elders were assembled together to consider about this matter.
7 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.
And after much debate, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago, God, who was among us, chose that the Gentiles should hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
And God who knoweth the heart, bare witness to them, giving them the holy Spirit, as He had done also to us:
9 He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
and made no difference between us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.
10 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?
Now therefore why do ye tempt God, in imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in like manner as they.
12 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.
And all the multitude kept silence, and gave attention to Barnabas and Paul, relating what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
And after they had done speaking, James rose up and said, Brethren, hearken unto me.
14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.
---Simeon hath related, how God at first condescended to take out of the Gentiles a people to his name.
15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, just as it is written:
And to this agree the words of the prophets,
16 ‘After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and erect it again,
as it is written, "After this will I return, and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will repair its ruins, and set it up again.
17 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.’
That the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the nations, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord who doth all these things."
Now all his works are known unto God from the beginning of the world: (aiōn g165)
19 Therefore my judgment is that we not create difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
wherefore my advice is, not to trouble those who from among the Gentiles are converted to God; but to write to them,
20 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.
that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 For from generations of old, Moses has had those who preach him in every city, because he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
For Moses hath had from ancient times those that preach him in every city, and is still read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.
22 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,
Then it seemed good to the apostles, and elders, and the whole church, to send men chose from among themselves to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas sirnamed Barsabas, and Silas; leading men among the brethren:
23 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.
and they wrote by their hand, as follows, The apostles and elders and brethren here to the Gentile brethren which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, send greeting.
24 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,
Forasmuch as we have heard, that some who went out from us, have troubled you by their discourses, unsettling your minds, saying, ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commission;
25 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,
it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved brethren Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have exposed their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in their own words.
We have therefore sent with them Judas and Silas, to tell you the same things also by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials:
For it seemed good to the holy Spirit, and so to us, to lay no more burthen upon you than these necessary things.
29 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.”
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from fornication: from which ye will do well to keep yourselves. Farewel.
30 So when these men had been sent off, they went to Antioch, and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
Being thus dispatched they came to Antioch, and when they had assembled the brethren, they delivered the epistle.
31 When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
And when they had read it, they rejoiced at the consolation it brought.
32 Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
And Judas and Silas being prophets also themselves, exhorted and established: the brethren by many discourses.
33 After spending some time there, they were sent off to the apostles in peace by the brothers.
And after some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to the apostles.
But it seemed good to Silas to continue there: Paul also and Barnabas stayed at Antioch,
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, along with many others, the good news of the word of the Lord.
teaching and preaching, with many others likewise, the word of the Lord.
36 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.”
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return and visit our brethren in every city, where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are.
37 Now Barnabas wanted to bring John, who was called Mark.
And Barnabas proposed to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark.
38 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.
But Paul did not think proper to take him with them, who left them in Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 So there arose a sharp disagreement, with the result that they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus,
And there was a sharp dispute, so that they separated from each other; and Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus: but Paul chose Silas and departed,
40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, once he had been committed by the brothers to the grace of God.
being recommended to the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia confirming the churches.
