Acts 15
1 But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses’ custom, you cannot be saved."
Then some men arrived from Judea who started teaching the believers, “Unless you're circumcised according to the rules set down by Moses, you can't be saved.”
2 Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Paul and Barnabas had many arguments and debates with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go to Jerusalem and talk to the apostles and leaders there about this issue.
3 So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they explained how foreigners were being converted, which made all the believers very happy.
4 Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them.
When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church members, the apostles, and the elders. They explained everything God had done through them.
5 But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses."
But they were opposed by some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee faction. They said, “These converts have to be circumcised, and instructed to observe the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and elders met to consider the matter;
The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
7 and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said. "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe.
After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me from among you so that the foreigners could hear the message of good news and trust in Jesus.
8 "And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us;
God, who knows thewhat we're thinking, has shown that he accepts them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.
9 "and he made no distinction between us and them, in cleansing their hearts by faith.
He doesn't make any distinction between us and them—he cleansed their thoughts as they trusted in him.
10 "Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
So why do you want to oppose God and put a burden on the believers that our fathers weren't able to bear, and we can't either?
11 "On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved."
We're convinced that we're saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.”
12 Then the whole assembly remained silent, and listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.
Everyone listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they explained the miraculous signs that God had performed through them among the foreigners.
13 When they had finished speaking, James said.
After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 "Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name.
Simon has described how God first revealed his concern for the foreigners by taking from them a people committed to him.
15 "And this is in harmony with the language of the prophets, which says.
This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,
16 "After these things I will return, And I will rebuild David’s fallen tent; And I will build again its ruins, And I will set it up;
‘In the future I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen house of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it straight.
17 "So that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, Even all the Gentiles, who are called by my name,
I will do this so that those who are left may come to the Lord, including the foreigners who call on my name.
This is what the Lord says, who revealed these things long ago.’ (aiōn g165)
19 "My judgment therefore, is against troubling those who turn to God from among the Gentiles;
So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.
20 "but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood.
We should write to them and tell them to avoid food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, meat of animals that have been strangled, and from consuming blood.
21 "For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town where he is read aloud, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the synagogues."
For the law of Moses has been taught in every town for a long, long time—it's read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar- Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, decided it would be good to choose some representatives and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers,
23 They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia;
and sent them with this letter: “Greetings from us, the apostles and elders and brothers, to the non-Jewish brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
24 "as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us;
We have heard that some from our group have confused you with their teachings, causing you trouble. We certainly didn't tell them to do this!
25 "we have unanimously decided to select certain men, and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul;
So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul,
26 "men who have risked their very lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 "So we have sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth.
So we are sending to you Judas and Silas who can verbally confirm what we're saying.
28 "For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements.
29 "that you abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, and from tasting blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear from these things and it will be well with you. Farewell."
You should avoid: anything sacrificed to idols; blood; meat from strangled animals; and sexual immorality. You will do well to observe these requirements. God bless you.”
30 So they, when they had been despatched, went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole multitude together, they handed them the letter,
The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter.
31 and when they had read it they rejoiced at the comfort it brought.
After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.
32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a good counsel.
Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.
33 After spending some time there the brothers let them go with a greeting of peace to those who had sent them.
After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.
34 Silas, however, stayed with them.
35 Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in company with others.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let is go back and visit the brothers in every city in which we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they fare."
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the believers in every town where we shared the word of the Lord, and see how they're doing.”
37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John, who was called Mark.
Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.
38 But Paul thought it unwise to take with them one who had deserted them to the Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to the work.
But Paul didn't think it was a good idea to take him with them, since he'd left them in Pamphylia and hadn't continued working with them.
39 So there arose a sharp irritation, so that they parted company; Barnabas taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus;
They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
40 while Paul chose Silas, and set forth commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
