Acts 15
15
Church Leaders Meet in Jerusalem
1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch. Here is what they were teaching the believers. “Moses commanded you to be circumcised,” they said. “If you aren’t, you can’t be saved.” 2But Paul and Barnabas didn’t agree with this. They argued strongly with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem. Some other believers were chosen to go with them. They were told to ask the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way. They traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria. There they told how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. Then Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.
5Some of the believers were Pharisees. They stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised. They must obey the law of Moses.”
6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After they had talked it over, Peter got up and spoke to them. “Brothers,” he said, “you know that some time ago God chose me. He appointed me to take the good news to the Gentiles. He wanted them to hear the good news and believe. 8God knows the human heart. By giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, he showed that he accepted them. He did the same for them as he had done for us. 9God showed that there is no difference between us and them. That’s because he made their hearts pure because of their faith. 10Now then, why are you trying to test God? You test him when you put a heavy load on the shoulders of Gentiles. Our people of long ago couldn’t carry that load. We can’t either. 11No! We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus. The Gentiles are saved in the same way.”
12Everyone became quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul. They were telling about the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14Simon Peter has explained to us what God has now done. He has chosen some of the Gentiles to be among his very own people. 15The prophets’ words agree with that. They say,
16“ ‘After this I will return
and set up again David’s fallen tent.
I will rebuild what was destroyed.
I will make it what it used to be.
17Then everyone else can look to the Lord.
This includes all the Gentiles who belong to me, says the Lord.
The Lord is the one who does these things.’ (Amos 9:11,12)
18The Lord does things that have been known from long ago.
19“Now here is my decision. We should not make it hard for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Here is what we should write to them. They must not eat food that has been made impure by being offered to statues of gods. They must not commit sexual sins. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not drink blood. 21These laws of Moses have been preached in every city from the earliest times. They are read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day.”
A Letter Is Written to Gentile Believers
22Then the apostles, the elders and the whole church decided what to do. They would choose some of their own men who were leaders among the believers. They would send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. So they chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas. They were leaders among the believers. 23Here is the letter they sent with them.
The apostles and elders, your brothers, are writing this letter.
We are sending it to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.
Greetings.
24We have heard that some of our people came to you and caused trouble. You were upset by what they said. But we had given them no authority to go. 25So we all agreed to send our dear friends Barnabas and Paul to you. We chose some other men to go with them. 26Barnabas and Paul have put their lives in danger. They did it for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27So we are sending Judas and Silas with them. What they say will agree with this letter. 28Here is what seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. We will not give you a load that is too heavy. So here are a few basic rules. 29Don’t eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. Don’t drink blood. Don’t eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And don’t commit sexual sins. You will do well to keep away from these things.
Farewell.
30So the men were sent down to Antioch. There they gathered the church together. They gave the letter to them. 31The people read it. They were glad for its message of hope. 32Judas and Silas were prophets. They said many things to give strength and hope to the believers. 33-34Judas and Silas stayed there for some time. Then the believers sent them away with the blessing of peace. They sent them back to those who had sent them out. 35Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. There they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas Do Not Agree
36Some time later Paul spoke to Barnabas. “Let’s go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord,” he said. “Let’s visit the believers and see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. 38But Paul didn’t think it was wise to take him. Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. He hadn’t continued with them in their work. 39Barnabas and Paul strongly disagreed with each other. So they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. 40But Paul chose Silas. The believers asked the Lord to give his grace to Paul and Silas as they went. 41Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia. He gave strength to the churches there.
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Acts 15: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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Acts 15
15
Conflict over Circumcision
1And #Gal. 2:12certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, #John 7:22; Acts 15:5; Gal. 5:2; Phil. 3:2; (Col. 2:8, 11, 16)“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that #Gal. 2:1Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
3So, #Acts 20:38; 21:5; Rom. 15:24; 1 Cor. 16:6, 11; 2 Cor. 1:16; Titus 3:13; 3 John 6being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, #Acts 14:27; 15:4, 12describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5But 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.”
The Jerusalem Council
6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: #Acts 10:20“Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8So God, #1 Chr. 28:9; Acts 1:24who knows the heart, acknowledged them by #Acts 2:4; 10:44, 47giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9#Rom. 10:12and made no distinction between us and them, #Acts 10:15, 28purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore, why do you test God #Matt. 23:4; Gal. 5:1by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But #Rom. 3:4; 5:15; 2 Cor. 13:14; (Eph. 2:5–8; Titus 2:11)we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
12Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had #Acts 14:27; 15:3, 4worked through them among the Gentiles. 13And after they had become silent, #Acts 12:17James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14#Acts 15:7; 2 Pet. 1:1Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16‘After#Amos 9:11, 12 this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’
18“Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19Therefore #Acts 15:28; 21:25I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who #1 Thess. 1:9are turning to God, 20but that we #Acts 21:25write to them to abstain #Gen. 35:2; Ex. 20:3, 23; Ezek. 20:30; (1 Cor. 8:1; 10:20, 28); Rev. 2:14from things polluted by idols, #(1 Cor. 6:9); Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:3; 1 Pet. 4:3from sexual immorality, #Gen. 9:4; Lev. 3:17; Deut. 12:16; 1 Sam. 14:33from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, #Acts 13:15, 27; 2 Cor. 3:14being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree
22Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named #Acts 1:23Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24Since we have heard that #Acts 15:1; Gal. 2:4; 5:12; Titus 1:10, 11some who went out from us have troubled you with words, #Gal. 1:7; 5:10unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26#Acts 13:50; 14:19; 1 Cor. 15:30; 2 Cor. 11:23–26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29#Acts 15:20; 21:25; Rev. 2:14, 20that you abstain from things offered to idols, #Lev. 17:14from blood, from things strangled, and from #1 Cor. 5:1; 6:18; 7:2; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:3sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.
Continuing Ministry in Syria
30So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32Now Judas and Silas, themselves being #Acts 11:27; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11; Rev. 18:20prophets also, #Acts 14:22; 18:23exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33And after they had stayed there for a time, they were #Mark 5:34; Acts 16:36; 1 Cor. 16:11; Heb. 11:31sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.
34However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35#Acts 13:1Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Division over John Mark
36Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37Now Barnabas was determined to take with them #Acts 12:12, 25; Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24John called Mark. 38But Paul insisted that they should not take with them #Acts 13:13the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to #Acts 4:36; 13:4Cyprus; 40but Paul chose Silas and departed, #Acts 11:23; 14:26being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, #Acts 16:5strengthening the churches.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.