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 persons coming down from Judea taught the brethren, That if ye are not circumcised according to the ordinances 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.
There being therefore no small contention and dispute maintained by Paul and Barnabas against them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of their body, should go up to the apostles and presbyters at Jerusalem, for the decision of this question.
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.
They therefore being sent on their way by the church, passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, giving a particular narrative of the conversion of the Gentiles: and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
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.
Then when they arrived at Jerusalem, they were cordially received by the church, and the apostles and presbyters, and they related how great things God had done by 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 up rose some of the pharisaical sect, who professed the faith, insisting, That it was necessary to circumcise them, and to enjoin them to observe the law of Moses.
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
Then the apostles and presbyters were assembled to consider of 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.
When after much dispute, Peter arose, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know that a considerable time ago God chose among us, by my mouth, that the Gentiles should hear the gospel-word, 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 is the discerner of the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as to us;
9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
and made no difference betwixt either us or 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?
Why then now tempt ye God, by imposing a yoke on 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 we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same way as they.
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.
Then the whole multitude kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul, relating how great signs and miracles God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
Now when they ceased speaking, James replied, saying, Men and brethren, hear me:
14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
Simon hath fully related, how at first God graciously looked upon the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
And in accord with this are the words of the prophets; 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 will I return, and build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen; and re-edify what hath been dug up from the foundation, and will set it upright 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.’
that the residue of men may diligently seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles, among whom my name is invoked, even among them, saith the Lord, who doth all these things.”
Known unto God from the beginning 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 am decided, that we give no unnecessary disquietude to those who from the heathen have turned 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, that they abstain from pollutions of idol sacrifices, and from whoredom, 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 for ages past in every city hath those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day.
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 determined by the apostles and presbyters with the whole church, to send select men from themselves unto Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren;
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.
writing a letter by their hand, in these words: The apostles and presbyters and the brethren, to the brethren from among the Gentiles which are at Antioch, and in Syria, and Cilicia, 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;
Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain persons who went out from us have disturbed you with discourses, unsettling your minds, insisting, that you should be circumcised, and observe the law: to whom we gave no such charge:
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 hath seemed fit to us, assembled unanimously, to send unto you select men with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have hazarded 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 sent therefore Judas and Silas, and they by word of mouth will tell you the same things.
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 hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no other burden except these things which are of absolute necessity;
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.”
that ye abstain from eating whatever is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from whoredom: from which things carefully preserving yourselves, ye shall do well. Farewell.
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
They then being thus dispatched, came to Antioch: and assembling the multitude, they delivered the letter:
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
and when they had read it, they rejoiced in the consolation of it.
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
Then Judas and Silas, being also themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren, in many a discourse, and established them.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
And having stayed their time, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to the apostles.
However Silas thought proper to abide there.
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Paul also and Barnabas abode at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others also, 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.”
Then after certain days said Paul to Barnabas, Let us now return and visit our brethren in every city among whom we have preached the word of the Lord, that we may see how they hold on.
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
Now Barnabas had resolved to take with him John, whose surname is 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 did not think him a fit person to take with them, who had withdrawn from them from Pamphylia, and no longer went with them to the service.
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 grew up a sudden quarrel, insomuch that they separated from each other: and Barnabas, taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus:
40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
but Paul selecting Silas, departed, being commended by the brethren to the favour of God.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
