Acts 15
1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”
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.”
2 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.
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.
3 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.
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.
4 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.
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.
5 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.”
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.”
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7 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 amongst you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.
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.
8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 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?
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?
11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done amongst the nations through them.
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.
13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, just as it is written:
16 ‘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
‘After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and erect it again,
17 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.’
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.’
All God's works are known to him from long ago. (aiōn g165)
19 Therefore my judgement is that we don’t trouble those from amongst the Gentiles who turn to God,
Therefore my judgment is that we not create difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
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.
21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
For from generations of old, Moses has had those who preach him in every city, because he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 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 amongst the brothers.
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,
23 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.
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.
24 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;
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,
25 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,
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,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in their own words.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials:
29 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.”
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.”
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
So when these men had been sent off, they went to Antioch, and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
After spending some time there, they were sent off to the apostles in peace by the brothers.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, along with many others, the good news of the word of the Lord.
36 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.”
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.”
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
Now Barnabas wanted to bring John, who was called Mark.
38 But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
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.
39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
So there arose a sharp disagreement, with the result that they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
but Paul chose Silas and departed, once he had been committed by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
