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."
And certain ones, descending from Judea, were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to 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 made no small uprising against them, they decided that Paul and Barnabas, and some from the opposing side, should go up to the Apostles and priests in Jerusalem concerning 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.
Therefore, being led by the church, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy among 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.
And when they had arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the Apostles and the elders, reporting what great things 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 from the sect of the Pharisees, those who were believers, rose up saying, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and to be instructed to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 Then the Apostles and Elders met to consider the matter;
And the Apostles and elders came together to take care of 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 "It is within your own knowledge," he said, "that God originally made choice among you that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the Message of the Good News, and believe.
And after a great contention had taken place, Peter rose up and said to them: “Noble brothers, you know that, in recent days, God has chosen from among us, by my mouth, Gentiles to hear the word of the Gospel and to 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;
And God, who knows hearts, offered testimony, by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as to us.
9 and He made no difference between us and them, in that He cleansed their hearts by their faith.
And he distinguished nothing between us and them, purifying 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 to impose a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been 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 by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe in order to be saved, in the same manner also as them.”
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.
Then the entire multitude was silent. And they were listening to Barnabas and Paul, describing what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
13 When they had finished speaking, James said, "Brethren, listen to me.
And after they had been silent, James responded by saying: “Noble 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.
Simon has explained in what manner God first visited, so as to take from the Gentiles a people to his name.
15 And this is in harmony with the language of the Prophets, which says:
And the words of the Prophets are in agreement with this, just as it was 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, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. And I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise 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,"
so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, along with all the nations over whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord, who does these things.’
To the Lord, his own work has been known from eternity. (aiōn g165)
19 "My judgement, therefore, is against inflicting unexpected annoyance on those of the Gentiles who are turning to God.
Because of this, I judge that those who were converted to God from among the Gentiles are not to be disturbed,
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 instead that we write to them, that they should keep themselves from the defilement of idols, and from fornication, and from whatever has been suffocated, 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 ancient times, has had in each city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read on 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 pleased the Apostles and elders, with the whole Church, to choose men from among them, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, and Judas, who was surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, preeminent 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.
what was written by their own hands: “The Apostles and elders, brothers, to those who are at Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, brothers from the Gentiles, 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;
Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, 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 pleased us, being assembled as one, to choose men and to send them to you, with our most beloved Barnabas and Paul:
26 who have endangered their very lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have handed over their lives on behalf of 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.
Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, with the spoken word, reaffirm to you the same things.
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 has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you, other 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 immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication. You will do well to keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”
30 They, therefore, having been solemnly sent, came down to Antioch, where they called together the whole assembly and delivered the letter.
And so, having been dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And gathering the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.
31 The people read it, and were delighted with the comfort it brought them.
And when they had read it, they were gladdened by this consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, being themselves also Prophets, gave them a long and encouraging talk, and strengthened them in the faith.
But Judas and Silas, being also prophets themselves, consoled the brothers with many words, and they were strengthened.
33 After spending some time there they received an affectionate farewell from the brethren to return to those who had sent them.
Then, after spending some more time there, they were dismissed with peace, by the brothers, to those who had sent them.
But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. So Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and, in company with many others, telling the Good News of the Lord's Message.
And Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, with many others, teaching and evangelizing the Word of the Lord.
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!"
Then, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return to visit the brothers throughout all the cities in which we have preached the Word of the Lord, to see how they are.”
37 Barnabas, however, was bent on taking with them John, whose other name was Mark,
And Barnabas wanted to take John, who was surnamed 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 was saying that he ought not to be received, since he withdrew from them at Pamphylia, and he had not gone with them in 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.
And there occurred a dissension, to such an extent that they departed from one another. And Barnabas, indeed taking Mark, sailed 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;
Yet truly, Paul, choosing Silas, set out, being delivered by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 and he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches.
And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the Churches, instructing them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and the elders.
