Acts 15
15
The Council in Jerusalem
1Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised in the tradition of Moses, # Ac 15:5, 24 you cannot be saved.” 2Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others among them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. # Ac 15:4, 6–7, 22–23 3So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, # Ac 14:27 and they brought great joy to all the brothers. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared what God had done through them. # Ac 14:27; 15:12
5Then some believers of the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.” # Ac 15:1
6The apostles and elders assembled to consider this matter. # Ac 15:25 7After much disputing, # Ac 15:2 Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God decided among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. # Ac 10:20 8God, who knows the heart, # Ac 1:24 approved of them, giving them the Holy Spirit # Ac 2:4 just as He did to us, 9and made no distinction between them and us, # Ac 10:28, 34 and purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why test God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? # Mt 23:4; Gal 5:1 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ # Ro 3:24; 2Co 13:14 we shall be saved, even as they.”
12The entire assembly remained silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. # Ac 14:27; 15:4 13After they had become silent, # Ac 12:17 James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon # 2Pe 1:1 has declared how God first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for His name. # Isa 43:21 15With this the words of the prophets agree. As it is written:
16‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will set it up; # Am 9:11–12 # 15:16 Am 9:11; Jer 12:15.
17that the rest of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, # Isa 43:7 # 15:17 Am 9:12; Dt 28:10; Isa 63:19; Jer 14:9; Da 9:19.
says the Lord who does all these things.’ # 15:17 Am 9:11–12.
18Known to God are all His works since the beginning of the world.
19“Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God, # Ac 15:28 20but that we write to them to abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. # Ge 9:4; Ac 15:29 21For Moses has had in every city since early generations those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” # Ac 13:15, 27
The Reply of the Council
22Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas called Barsabas, and Silas, # Ac 15:27, 32, 40; 1Th 1:1 leading men among the brothers. 23They wrote this letter by their hand:
The apostles and the elders and the brothers,
To the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings. # Ac 23:26; Jas 1:1
24Since we have heard that some of us, whom we did not commission, have gone out and have troubled you with words, # Gal 1:7 unsettling your minds, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law,” # Ac 15:1 25it seemed good to us, being assembled in unity, # Ac 1:14 to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, # 2Pe 3:15 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. # Ac 9:23–25; 14:19 27Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, # Ac 15:22 who will also speak to you, saying the same things. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit # Jn 16:13; Ac 5:32 and to us to put on you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29Abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. # Ac 15:20; 21:25; Rev 2:14 If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.
30So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch. And when they had assembled the congregation, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced over the exhortation. 32Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, # Ac 13:1 exhorted the brothers with many words and strengthened them. # Ac 11:23 33After they had remained there for a time, they were sent off in peace # Ac 16:36; 1Co 16:11 by the brothers to the apostles. 34But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35And Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. # Ac 13:1
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” # Ac 13:4, 13–14 37Barnabas determined to take with them John, who was called Mark. # Ac 12:12 38But Paul thought it was not good to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. # Ac 13:13 39Then there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, # Ac 4:36 40but Paul chose Silas # Ac 15:22 and departed, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. # Ac 14:26 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, # Ac 15:23 strengthening the churches. # Ac 15:32
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Acts 15: MEV
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version
Copyright © 2024, 2017, 2014 by United Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House. All rights reserved.
The Acts 15
15
1And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them. 5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.
6And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. 7And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they. 12And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me: 14Symeon hath rehearsed how first God did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: 17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, 18Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world. 19Wherefore my judgement is, that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles turn to God; 20but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elder brethren unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: 24Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; 25it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well. 30So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.#15.33 Some ancient authorities insert, with variations, ver. 34 But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there. 35But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they fare. 37And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus; 40but Paul chose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
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