< Acts 15 >
1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and taught the brothers, saying, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
And certain having come down from Judea, were teaching the brethren — 'If ye be not circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye are not able to be saved;'
2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into a sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas along with some others from among them were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders about this question.
there having been, therefore, not a little dissension and disputation to Paul and Barnabas with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up unto the apostles and elders to Jerusalem about this question,
3 They therefore, being sent by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria and announced the conversion of the Gentiles. They brought great joy to all the brothers.
they indeed, then, having been sent forward by the assembly, were passing through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brethren.
4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things that God had done with them.
And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, they declared also as many things as God did with them;
5 But certain men who believed, who belonged to the group of Pharisees, stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying — 'It behoveth to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the law of Moses.'
6 So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
And there were gathered together the apostles and the elders, to see about this matter,
7 After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
and there having been much disputing, Peter having risen up said unto them, 'Men, brethren, ye know that from former days, God among us did make choice, through my mouth, for the nations to hear the word of the good news, and to believe;
8 God, who knows the heart, witnesses to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us;
and the heart-knowing God did bare them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us,
9 and he made no distinction between us and them, making their hearts clean by faith.
and did put no difference also between us and them, by the faith having purified their hearts;
10 Now therefore why do you test God, that you should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
now, therefore, why do ye tempt God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they were.”
but, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.'
12 All the multitude kept silent while they listened to Barnabas and Paul report the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
And all the multitude did keep silence, and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul, declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them;
13 After they stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
and after they are silent, James answered, saying, 'Men, brethren, hearken to me;
14 Simon has told how God first graciously helped the Gentiles in order to take from them a people for his name.
Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name,
15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,
and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written:
16 'After these things I will return, and I will build again the tent of David, which has fallen down; I will set up and restore its ruins again,
After these things I will turn back, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and its ruins I will build again, and will set it upright —
17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, including all the Gentiles called by my name.'
that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name hath been called, saith the Lord, who is doing all these things.
18 This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times. (aiōn )
'Known from the ages to God are all His works; (aiōn )
19 Therefore, my opinion is, that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.
wherefore I judge: not to trouble those who from the nations do turn back to God,
20 But we will write to them that they must keep away from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;
21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from the ancient times and he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
for Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him — in the synagogues every sabbath being read.'
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders of the church, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, chosen men out of themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas — Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren —
23 They wrote this: “From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings!
having written through their hand thus: 'The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brethren, who [are] of the nations, greeting;
24 We have heard that certain men have gone out from us, with no orders from us, and have disturbed you with teachings that upset your souls.
seeing we have heard that certain having gone forth from us did trouble you with words, subverting your souls, saying to be circumcised and to keep the law, to whom we did give no charge,
25 This being so, all of us have agreed to choose men and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
it seemed good to us, having come together with one accord, chosen men to send unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul —
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ —
27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same thing themselves in their own words.
we have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they by word are telling the same things.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
'For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things:
29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, it shall be well with you. Farewell.”
to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well; be strong!'
30 So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; after they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
They then, indeed, having been let go, went to Antioch, and having brought the multitude together, did deliver the epistle,
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement.
and they having read, did rejoice for the consolation;
32 Judas and Silas, also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
Judas also and Silas, being themselves also prophets, through much discourse did exhort the brethren, and confirm,
33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.
and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brethren unto the apostles;
and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch along with many others, where they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.
And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news — with many others also — the word of the Lord;
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
and after certain days, Paul said unto Barnabas, 'Having turned back again, we may look after our brethren, in every city in which we have preached the word of the Lord — how they are.'
37 Barnabas wanted to also take with them John who was called Mark.
And Barnabas counselled to take with [them] John called Mark,
38 But Paul thought it was not good to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and did not go further with them in the work.
and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work;
39 Then there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.
there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, did sail to Cyprus,
40 But Paul chose Silas and left, after he was entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brethren;
41 Then he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.