Acts 15
1 But certain persons came down from Judea, and began to teach the Brethren that, unless they were circumcised, in accordance with the custom enjoined by Moses, they could not be saved.
And certain men, who came down from Judea, taught the brothers, Unless ye will be circumcised in the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 This gave rise to a serious dispute, and much discussion, between Paul and Barnabas and these men, and it was therefore settled that Paul and Barnabas and others of their number should go up to Jerusalem, to consult the Apostles and Officers of the Church about the matter under discussion.
Therefore, no small dissension and debate having developed with Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some other men from them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.
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 Brethren.
Indeed therefore, having been helped for the trip by the congregation, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy to all the brothers.
4 On their arrival at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, as well as by the Apostles and the Officers, and gave an account of all that God had helped them to do.
And after arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders. And they reported as many things as God did with them.
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.
But some of the men who believed from the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 The Apostles and the Officers of the Church held a meeting to consider this question.
And the apostles and the elders were assembled together to see about this matter.
7 After much discussion, Peter rose and said: “You, my Brothers, 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.
And when much debate occurred, Peter having risen up, he said to them, Men, brothers, ye know that from past days among us, God chose the Gentiles to hear through my mouth the word of the good news, and to believe.
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.
And God, who knows the heart, testified to them, having given them the Holy Spirit, just as also to us.
9 He made no distinction between them and us, when he purified their hearts by their faith.
And he made not one distinction between both us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.
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?
Now therefore why do ye challenge God, to place a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 No, it is through the loving-kindness of the Lord Jesus that we, just as they do, believe that we have been saved.”
But through the grace of the Lord Jesus, we believe to be saved, in the same way as those men also.
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.
And all the multitude kept silent, and they heard Barnabas and Paul describing how many signs and wonders God did among the Gentiles through them.
13 After they had finished speaking, James addressed the Council. “Brothers,” he began, “hear what I have to say.
And after they were quiet, James answered, saying, Men, brothers, hear me.
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.
Simeon described how God first came to help, to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.
15 And that is in harmony with the words of the Prophets, where they say —
And to this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written,
16 ‘“After this I will return; And I will rebuild the House of David which has fallen — Its very ruins I will rebuild, And will set it up once more;
After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen. And I will rebuild the things of it that have been demolished, and I will restore it,
17 That so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord — Even all the Gentiles on whom my Name has been bestowed.”
so that the rest of men might seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called upon them, says the Lord, who does these things.
Known to God from the age are all his works. (aiōn g165)
19 In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,
Therefore I judge not to trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,
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.
but to write to them, to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 For in every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the Synagogues every Sabbath.”
For Moses from generations past, has from city to city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues on every sabbath.
22 It was then decided by the Apostles and the Officers, 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 leading men among the Brethren.
Then it was decided by the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to send men chosen from them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
23 They were bearers of the following letter — ‘The Apostles, and the Brothers who are the Officers of the Church, send their greetings to the Brethren of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
after writing by their hand these things: The apostles, and the elders, and the brothers, to those down in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, to the brothers of the Gentiles, greeting.
24 As we had heard that some of our number had upset you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds — without instructions from us —
Since we have heard that certain men who went out from us have troubled you with words, disturbing your souls, saying to be circumcised, and to keep the law, to whom we did not command,
25 We met and decided to choose certain men and send them to you with our dear brothers Barnabas and Paul,
it was decided by us, having become unanimous, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have sacrificed themselves for the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
men who have given over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, themselves also declaring the same things by speech.
28 We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden upon you beyond these necessary conditions —
For it was decided by the Holy Spirit, and by us, to lay upon you not one greater burden than these necessary things:
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.’
to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
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 brethren,
Indeed therefore after being dismissed, they came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 and delivered the letter, the reading of which caused great rejoicing by its encouraging contents.
And after reading it, they rejoiced for the encouragement.
32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves Prophets, further encouraged the Brethren by many an address, and strengthened their faith.
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers by much speech, and strengthened them.
33 After some stay, they were dismissed with kind farewells from the Brethren, and returned to those who had sent them.
And after spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brothers to the apostles.
[This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.]
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.
But Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching good news, the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas: “Let us go back and visit the Brethren in every town in which we have told the Lord’s Message, and see how they are prospering.”
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, After returning, surely we could help our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, how they fare.
37 Barnabas wished to take with them John, whose other name was Mark;
And Barnabas wanted to take along John called Mark.
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.
But Paul thought it not worthy to bring along this man who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and not having gone with them to the work.
39 This caused such unpleasant feeling between them that they parted, Barnabas taking Mark and sailing for Cyprus,
Therefore a provocation developed, so as for them to separate from each other, and Barnabas to sail for Cyprus, after taking Mark,
40 while Paul chose Silas for his companion and, after he had been committed by the Brethren to the gracious care of the Lord,
but Paul, having selected Silas, went forth after being delivered to the grace of God by the brothers.
41 started on his journey and went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches in the faith.
And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the congregations.
