Acts 15
1 But certain persons who had come down from Judaea tried to convince the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved."
Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Between these new comers and Paul and Barnabas there was no little disagreement and controversy, until at last it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some other brethren should go up to consult the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem on this matter.
Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3 So they set out, being accompanied for a short distance by some other members of the Church; and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of the conversion of the Gentiles and inspired all the brethren with great joy.
They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
4 Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were cordially received by the Church, the Apostles, and the Elders; and they reported in detail all that God, working with them, had done.
When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.
5 But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees but were now believers, stood up in the assembly, and said, "Yes, Gentile believers ought to be circumcised and be ordered to keep the Law of Moses."
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 Then the Apostles and Elders met to consider the matter;
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
7 and after there had been a long discussion Peter rose to his feet. "It is within your own knowledge," he said, "that God originally made choice among you that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the Message of the Good News, and believe.
When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.
8 And God, who knows all hearts, gave His testimony in their favour by bestowing the Holy Spirit on them just as He did on us;
God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
9 and He made no difference between us and them, in that He cleansed their hearts by their faith.
He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 Now, therefore, why try an experiment upon God, by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put 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 it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus that we, as well as they, shall be saved."
But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
12 Then the whole assembly remained silent while they listened to the statement made by Paul and Barnabas as to all the signs and marvels that God had done among the Gentiles through their instrumentality.
All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
13 When they had finished speaking, James said, "Brethren, listen to me.
After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Symeon has related how God first looked graciously on the Gentiles to take from among them a People to be called by His name.
Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And this is in harmony with the language of the Prophets, which says:
This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
16 "'"Afterwards I will return, and will rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will set it up again;
‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up
17 In order that the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord--even all the nations which are called by My name,"
that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
known from the age (aiōn g165).
19 "My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 Yet let us send them written instructions to abstain from things polluted by connexion with idolatry, from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood.
but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town, being read, as he is, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the various synagogues."
For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Thereupon it was decided by the Apostles and Elders, with the approval of the whole Church, to choose suitable persons from among themselves and send them to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas. Judas, called Bar-sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, were selected,
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.
23 and they took with them the following letter: "The Apostles and the elder brethren send greeting to the Gentile brethren throughout Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.
They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.
24 As we have been informed that certain persons who have gone out from among us have disturbed you by their teaching and have unsettled your minds, without having received any such instructions from us;
Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;
25 we have unanimously decided to select certain men and send them to you in company with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,
it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have endangered their very lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who are themselves bringing you the same message by word of mouth.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no burden heavier than these necessary requirements--
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
29 You must abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear of these things, and it will be well with you. Farewell."
that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
30 They, therefore, having been solemnly sent, came down to Antioch, where they called together the whole assembly and delivered the letter.
So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 The people read it, and were delighted with the comfort it brought them.
When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also Prophets, gave them a long and encouraging talk, and strengthened them in the faith.
Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
33 After spending some time there they received an affectionate farewell from the brethren to return to those who had sent them.
After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and, in company with many others, telling the Good News of the Lord's Message.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 After a while Paul said to Barnabas, "Suppose we now revisit the brethren in the various towns in which we have made known the Lord's Message--to see whether they are prospering!"
After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was Mark,
Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
38 while Paul deemed it undesirable to have as their companion one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.
But Paul did not think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and did not go with them to do the work.
39 So there arose a serious disagreement between them, which resulted in their parting from one another, Barnabas taking Mark and setting sail for Cyprus.
Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 But Paul chose Silas as his travelling companion; and set out, after being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord;
but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 and he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches.
He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
