Acts 15
15
Dispute in Antioch
1Some men#Ac 15:24; Gl 2:12 came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised#Ac 15:5; 16:3; 21:21; 1Co 7:18; Gl 5:2 according to the custom prescribed by Moses,#Lv 12:3; Ac 6:14 you cannot be saved.” 2After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.#Ac 11:30; 16:4; Gl 2:1–2 3When they had been sent on their way by the church,#Ac 11:18; 21:5; Rm 15:24; 1Co 16:6,11; 2Co 1:16; Ti 3:13; 3Jn 6 they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.#Ac 14:27; 15:12 5But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
The Jerusalem Council
6The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you,#15:7 Other mss read us that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us.#Ac 1:24; 10:44,47 9He made no distinction between us and them,#Ac 10:28,34; 11:12 cleansing their hearts by faith.#Ac 10:43; 1Pt 1:22 10Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks#Mt 23:4; Gl 5:1 that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace#Rm 3:24; Eph 2:5–8; Ti 2:11 of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.#Jn 4:48; Ac 14:27; 15:4 13After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simeon#15:14 Simon (Peter) has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.#Ac 12:17; 15:7 15And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 After these things I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins
and set it up again,
17 so that the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord —
even all the Gentiles
who are called by my name —
declares the Lord
who makes these things 18known from long ago.#15:17–18 Other mss read says the Lord who does all these things. Known to God from long ago are all his works.#15:16–18Am 9:11–12; Is 45:21#Is 45:21; Jr 14:9; Dn 9:19; Am 9:11–12
19Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,#1Co 8:7,13; 10:7–8,14–28; Rv 2:14,20 from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. 21For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”#Ac 13:15; 2Co 3:14
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
22Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,#Ac 1:23; 15:2; 1Pt 5:12 both leading men among the brothers. 23They wrote:
“From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:#Ac 15:1; 23:26; Jms 1:1
Greetings.
24Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us#Gl 2:4; 5:12; Ti 1:10 and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,#15:24 Other mss add by saying, ‘Be circumcised and keep the law,’#Gl 1:7; 5:10 25we have unanimously#Ac 1:14; 2:46; 4:24; 5:12; 7:57; 8:6; 12:20; 18:12; 19:29 decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26who have risked their lives#Ac 9:23–25; 14:19 for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. 28For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision — and ours — not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:#Ac 5:32; 15:8 29that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.#Ac 15:20; 21:25; Rv 2:14,20 You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.
Farewell.”
The Outcome of the Jerusalem Letter
30So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. 31When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message.#Ac 14:22; 15:1 33After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace#Mk 5:34; Ac 16:36; 1Co 16:11; Heb 11:31 by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.#15:33 Other mss read the brothers to the apostles#15:33 Other mss add v. 34: But Silas decided to stay there. 35But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.#Ac 8:4; 13:1
Paul and Barnabas Part Company
36After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town#Ac 13:4,13–14,51; 14:6,24 where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark. 38But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark#Ac 12:12; 13:13; Col 4:10 with him and sailed off to Cyprus. 40But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.#Ac 11:23; 14:26; 15:22 41He traveled through Syria#Ac 6:9; 15:23; 16:5 and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
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Acts 15: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
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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