Acts 15

1 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

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.”

2 And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

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.

3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

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.

4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

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.

5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

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.”

6 So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

7 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

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 among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.

8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

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?

11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

12 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 declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.

14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

16 ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

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

17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things

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.’

18 that have been known for ages.’

18 “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

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.

21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

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 among the brothers.

23 and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

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.

24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

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;

25 So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

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,

26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:

28 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 food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

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.”

30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.

30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.

33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.

34

35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.

35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

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.”

37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.

37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

38 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

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.

39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

39 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 and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.