Acts 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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Acts 15

1 # Lv 12.3. Some people came from Judea and started teaching the Lord's followers that they could not be saved, unless they were circumcised as Moses had taught. 2This caused trouble, and Paul and Barnabas argued with them about this teaching. So it was decided to send Paul and Barnabas and a few others to Jerusalem to discuss this problem with the apostles and the church leaders.

The Church Leaders Meet in Jerusalem

3The men who were sent by the church went through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made the Lord's followers very happy. 4When the men arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, including the apostles and the leaders. They told them everything God had helped them do. 5But some Pharisees had become followers of the Lord. They stood up and said, “Gentiles who have faith in the Lord must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.”

6The apostles and church leaders met to discuss this problem about Gentiles. 7#Ac 10.1-43. They had talked it over for a long time, when Peter got up and said:

My friends, you know that God decided long ago to let me be the one from your group to preach the good news to the Gentiles. God did this so they would hear and obey him. 8#Ac 2.4; 10.44. He knows what is in everyone's heart. And he showed he had chosen the Gentiles, when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he had given his Spirit to us. 9God treated them in the same way that he treated us. They put their faith in him, and he made their hearts pure.

10Now why are you trying to make God angry by placing a heavy burden on these followers? This burden was too heavy for us or our ancestors. 11But we believe that we will be saved by the gift of undeserved grace from our Lord Jesus Christ, just as the Gentiles are.

12Everyone kept quiet and listened as Barnabas and Paul told how God had given them the power to work a lot of miracles and wonders for the Gentiles.

13After they had finished speaking, James#15.13 James: The Lord's brother. said:

My friends, listen to me! 14Simon Peter#15.14 Simon Peter: The Greek text has “Simeon,” which is another form of the name “Simon.” The apostle Peter is meant. has told how God first came to the Gentiles and made some of them his own people. 15This agrees with what the prophets wrote,

16 # Am 9.11,12 (LXX). “I, the Lord, will return

and rebuild

David's fallen house.

I will build it from its ruins

and set it up again.

17Then other nations

will turn to me

and be my chosen ones.

I, the Lord, say this.

18I promised it long ago.”

19And so, my friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20#Ex 34.15-17; Lv 17.10-16; Lv 18.6-23. We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins.#15.20 not commit any terrible sexual sins: This probably refers to the laws about the wrong kind of marriages that are forbidden in Leviticus 18.6-18 or to some serious sexual sin.

21We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read in our synagogues.

A Letter to Gentiles Who Had Faith in the Lord

22The apostles, the leaders, and all the church members decided to send some men to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Silas and Judas Barsabbas,#15.22 Judas Barsabbas: He may have been a brother of Joseph Barsabbas (see 1.23), but the name “Barsabbas” was often used by the Jewish people. who were two leaders of the Lord's followers. 23They wrote a letter that said:

We apostles and leaders send friendly greetings to all of you Gentiles who are followers of the Lord in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

24We have heard that some people from here have terribly upset you by what they said. But we did not send them! 25So we met together and decided to choose some men and to send them to you along with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. 26These men have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We are also sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things that we are writing.

28The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you. 29#4 Macc 5.2. But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. You must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. If you follow these instructions, you will do well.

We send our best wishes.

30The four men left Jerusalem and went to Antioch. Then they called the church members together and gave them the letter. 31When the letter was read, everyone was pleased and greatly encouraged. 32Judas and Silas were prophets, and they spoke a long time, encouraging and helping the Lord's followers.

33The men from Jerusalem stayed on in Antioch for a while. And when they left to return to the ones who had sent them, the followers wished them well. 34-35But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached about the Lord.#15.34,35 Verse 34, which says that Silas decided to stay on in Antioch, is not in some manuscripts.

Paul and Barnabas Go Their Separate Ways

36Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the Lord's followers in the cities where we preached his message. Then we will know how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take along John, whose other name was Mark. 38#Ac 13.13. But Paul did not want to, because Mark had left them in Pamphylia and had stopped working with them.

39Paul and Barnabas argued, then each of them went his own way. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40but Paul took Silas and left after the followers had placed them in God's care. 41They traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches.

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