< 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 came down from Judaea, and taught the brethren, that unless ye be circumcised, in accordance with the rite of the law, ye cannot have life.
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.
And Paul and Barnabas had much trouble and disputation with them. And it resulted, that Paul and Barnabas, and others with them, went up to the legates and Elders at Jerusalem, because of this matter.
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.
And the church waited on them, and sent them away; and they travelled through all Phenicia and the territory of the Samaritans, narrating the conversion of the Gentiles, and causing 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.
And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the Elders, and by the legates; and they recounted all that God had wrought 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.”
And some who from the sect of the Pharisees had believed, rose up and said: It is necessary for you to circumcise them, and to command them to observe the law of Moses.
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
And the legates and Elders assembled, to look into 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 there had been much discussion, Simon arose and said to them: Men, brethren, ye know that, from the earlier days, God chose that from my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and should believe.
8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
And God, who knoweth what is in hearts, bore testimony concerning them, and gave the Holy Spirit to them, even as to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
And he made no distinction between them and us; because he 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?
And now, why tempt ye God, by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we could 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 as well as they, are to have life by the grace of our Lord Jesus Messiah.
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 the whole assembly were silent, and listened to Paul and Barnabas, who related how God by their hands had wrought signs and prodigies among the Gentiles.
13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
And after they ceased, James arose and said: Men, brethren, hearken to me.
14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
Simon hath related to you, how God hath begun to elect a people for his name from among the Gentiles.
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
And with this the words of the prophets accord, 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 will set up the tabernacle of David that had fallen; and will build that which was in ruins in it, and will raise it up:
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 residue of men may seek the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is called; saith the Lord, who doth all these things.
18 “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity. (aiōn g165)
Known, from of old, are the works of God. (aiōn g165)
19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,
Therefore I say to you, let them not crush those who from among the Gentiles have turned unto 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 let word be sent to them, that they keep aloof from the defilement of a sacrifice to idols, 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 in every city, from former ages, Moses hath heralds in the synagogues, who read him 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 the legates and Elders, with all the church, chose men from among themselves, and sent them to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Jude, who was called Barsabas, and Silas, men who were chiefs 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.
And they wrote a letter by them, thus: The legates and Elders and brethren, to them that are in Antioch, and in Syria, and in Cilicia, brethren who are from 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;
We have heard, that some have gone from us and disquieted you, by discourses, and have subverted your minds, by saying, That ye must be circumcised and keep the law; things which we have not commanded them.
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,
Therefore we all have thought fit, when assembled, to choose and send men to you, with our beloved Paul and Barnabas,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Messiah.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
And we have sent with them Jude and Silas, that they may tell you the same things orally.
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 pleasing to the Holy Spirit, and to us, that there should not be laid upon you any additional burden, besides 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.”
that ye keep aloof from a sacrifice to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from whoredom. And if ye keep yourselves from these, ye will do well. Be ye steadfast in the Lord.
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
And they who were sent, came to Antioch, and assembled all the people, and delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
And when they had read it, they rejoiced and were comforted.
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
And with abundant discourse they strengthened the brethren; and the associates of Jude and Silas established them, because they also were prophets.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
And when, they had been there some time, the brethren dismissed them in peace to the legates.
But it was the pleasure of Silas to remain 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 remained at Antioch; and they taught and proclaimed, with many others, the word of God.
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: Let us return, and visit the brethren in every city, in which we have preached the word of God; and let us see what they are doing.
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
And Barnabas was disposed to take John, who was surnamed 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 was not willing to take him with them; because he left them when they were in Pamphylia, and went not with them.
39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
In, consequence of this strife, they separated from each other: and Barnabas took Mark, and they travelled by sea and went to Cyprus.
40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
But Paul chose Silas for his companion, and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
And he travelled through Syria, and through Cilicia, and strengthened the churches.

< Acts 15 >