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.”
And certain men, who came down from Judea, taught the brothers, Unless ye will be circumcised in the custom of Moses, ye 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, no small dissension and debate having developed with Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some other men from them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about 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.
Indeed therefore, having been helped for the trip by the congregation, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles. And they caused great joy to all the brothers.
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.
And after arriving in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders. And they reported as many things as God did with 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 men who believed from the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
And the apostles and the elders were assembled together to see about 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 among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.
And when much debate occurred, Peter having risen up, he said to them, Men, brothers, ye know that from past days among us, God chose the Gentiles to hear through my mouth the word of the good news, and to 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, having given them the Holy Spirit, just as also to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
And he made not one distinction between both us and them, having purified 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 therefore why do ye challenge God, to place a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
But through the grace of the Lord Jesus, we believe to be saved, in the same way as those men also.
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.
And all the multitude kept silent, and they heard Barnabas and Paul describing how many signs and wonders God did among the Gentiles through them.
13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
And after they were quiet, James answered, saying, Men, brothers, hear me.
14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
Simeon described how God first came to help, to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
And to this the words of the prophets agree, 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 these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen. And I will rebuild the things of it that have been demolished, and I will restore it,
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 men might seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called upon them, says the Lord, who does these things.
Known to God from the age are all his works. (aiōn g165)
19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,
Therefore I judge not to trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning 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 to write to them, to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is 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 Moses from generations past, has from city to city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues on 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 among the brothers.
Then it was decided by the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to send men chosen from 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.
after writing by their hand these things: The apostles, and the elders, and the brothers, to those down in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, to the brothers of the Gentiles, greeting.
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 who went out from us have troubled you with words, disturbing your souls, saying to be circumcised, and to keep the law, to whom we did not command,
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 was decided by us, having become unanimous, to send chosen men to 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 over 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.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, themselves also declaring the same things by speech.
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 was decided by the Holy Spirit, and by us, to lay upon you not one greater burden than these necessary things:
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.”
to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
Indeed therefore after being dismissed, they came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
And after reading it, they rejoiced for the encouragement.
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brothers by much speech, and strengthened them.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
And after spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brothers to the apostles.
[This verse is not in the majority of the Greek manuscripts.]
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
But Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching good news, the word of the Lord, with many others also.
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.”
And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, After returning, surely we could help our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, how they fare.
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
And Barnabas wanted to take along John 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 not worthy to bring along this man who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and not having gone with them to the work.
39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
Therefore a provocation developed, so as for them to separate from each other, and Barnabas to sail for Cyprus, after taking Mark,
40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
but Paul, having selected Silas, went forth after being delivered to the grace of God by the brothers.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the congregations.
