Acts 15
1 Now certain men came down from Judaea, teaching the brothers and saying that without circumcision, after the rule of Moses, there is no salvation.
And some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.
2 And after Paul and Barnabas had had no little argument and discussion with them, the brothers made a decision to send Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them to the Apostles and the rulers of the church at Jerusalem about this question.
And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the other side, should go up to the apostles and priests to Jerusalem about this question.
3 So they, being sent on their way by the church, went through Phoenicia and Samaria, giving news of the salvation of the Gentiles, to the great joy of all the brothers.
They therefore being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
4 And when they came to Jerusalem, they had a meeting with the church and the Apostles and the rulers, and they gave an account of all the things which God had done through them.
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them.
5 But some of the Pharisees, who were of the faith, got up and said, It is necessary for these to have circumcision and to keep the law of Moses.
But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.
6 And the Apostles and the rulers of the church came together and gave thought to the question.
And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, My brothers, you have knowledge that some time back it was God's pleasure that by my mouth the good news might be given to the Gentiles so that they might have faith.
And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, the searcher of hearts, was a witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit even as he did to us;
And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us;
9 Making no division between them and us, but making clean their hearts by faith.
And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Why then are you testing God, by putting on the neck of the disciples a yoke so hard that not even our fathers or we were strong enough for it?
Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 But we have faith that we will get salvation through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way as they.
But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.
12 And all the people were quiet while Barnabas and Paul gave an account of the signs and wonders which God had done among the Gentiles by them.
And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And when they had come to an end, James, answering, said, My brothers, give ear to me:
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.
14 Symeon has given an account of how God was first pleased to take from among the Gentiles a people for himself.
Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name.
15 And this is in agreement with the words of the prophets, as it is said,
And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:
16 After these things I will come back, and will put up the tent of David which has been broken down, building up again its broken parts and making it complete:
After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:
17 So that the rest of men may make search for the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is named,
That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.
To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world. (aiōn g165)
19 For this reason my decision is, that we do not put trouble in the way of those who from among the Gentiles are turned to God;
For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.
20 But that we give them orders to keep themselves from things offered to false gods, and from the evil desires of the body, and from the flesh of animals put to death in ways against the law, and from blood.
But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses, from times long past, has his preachers in every town, reading his law in the Synagogues every Sabbath.
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.
22 Then it seemed good to the Apostles and the rulers and all the church, to send men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; Judas, named Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers:
Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
23 And they sent a letter by them, saying, The Apostles and the older brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, may joy be with you:
Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.
24 Because we have knowledge that some who went from us have been troubling you with their words, putting your souls in doubt; to whom we gave no such order;
Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment:
25 It seemed good to us, having come to an agreement together, to send these men to you, with our well loved Barnabas and Paul,
It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:
26 Men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 And so we have sent Judas and Silas, who will say the same things to you themselves, by word of mouth.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to put on you nothing more than these necessary things;
For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:
29 To keep from things offered to false gods, and from blood, and from things put to death in ways which are against the law, and from the evil desires of the body; if you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. May you be happy.
That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.
30 So they, being sent away, came down to Antioch, and having got the people together, they gave them the letter.
They therefore being dismissed, went down to Antioch; and gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.
31 And after reading it, they were glad of its comfort.
Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, gave teaching to the brothers and made them strong in the faith.
But Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, with many words comforted the brethren, and confirmed them.
33 And when they had been there for some time, they were sent back in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.
And after they had spent some time there, they were let go with peace by the brethren, unto them that had sent them.
But it seemed good unto Silas to remain there; and Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.
35 But Paul and Barnabas kept on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of God, with a number of others.
And Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord.
36 And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go back and see the brothers in every town where we have given the word of God, and see how they are.
And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and visit our brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they do.
37 And Barnabas had a desire to take with them John, named Mark.
And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark;
38 But Paul was of the opinion that it was not right to take with them one who had gone away from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone on with the work.
But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of Pamphylia, and not gone with them to the work) might not be received.
39 And there was a sharp argument between them, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and went by ship to Cyprus;
And there arose a dissension, so that they departed one from another; and Barnabas indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.
40 But Paul took Silas and went away with the blessing of the brothers.
But Paul choosing Silas, departed, being delivered by the brethren to the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, making the churches stronger in the faith.
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.
