Acts 15
15
Dispute in Antioch
1Some men # 15:1 Ac 15:24; Gl 2:12 came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised # 15:1 Ac 15:5; 16:3; 21:21; 1Co 7:18; Gl 5:2 according to the custom prescribed by Moses, # 15:1 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. # 15:2 Ac 11:30; 16:4; Gl 2:1–2 3When they had been sent on their way by the church, # 15:3 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. # 15:4 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. # 15:8 Ac 1:24; 10:44,47 9He made no distinction between us and them, # 15:9 Ac 10:28,34; 11:12 cleansing their hearts by faith. # 15:9 Ac 10:43; 1Pt 1:22 10Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks # 15:10 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 # 15:11 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. # 15:12 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. # 15:13–14 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.,# 15:16–18 Am 9:11–12; Is 45:21,# 15:16–18 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, # 15:20 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.” # 15:21 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, # 15:22 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: # 15:23 Ac 15:1; 23:26; Jms 1:1
Greetings.
24Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us # 15:24 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,’,# 15:24 Gl 1:7; 5:10 25we have unanimously # 15:25 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 # 15:26 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: # 15:28 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. # 15:29 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. # 15:32 Ac 14:22; 15:1 33After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace # 15:33 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. # 15:35 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 # 15:36 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 # 15:37–39 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. # 15:40 Ac 11:23; 14:26; 15:22 41He traveled through Syria # 15:41 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
Gevurot Meyruach Hakodesh 15
15
1And some men came down from Yehudah to Syrian Antioch and were teaching the Achim b'Moshiach that if you lack the bris milah as prescribed by Moshe Rabbenu, it is impossible for you to come to Yeshu'at Eloheinu. 2Now this brought them into a dispute and a debate of no little proportion with Rav Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba, who were appointed to go up with some others from them to bring this she'elah (question) before the Moshiachʼs Shlichim and Zekenim in Yerushalayim. 3Then having been sent on their way by the Kehillah, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Shomron telling in detail how the Nations were turning to Hashem and they were bringing great simcha to all the Achim b'Moshiach. 4And having come to Yerushalayim, they were there received by Moshiachʼs Kehillah and the Moshiachʼs Shlichim and the Zekenim, and they reported what things Hashem had done with them. 5But some of the ma'aminim hameshichiyim from the kat of the Perushim rose up, saying, It is necessary to give the Goyim the bris milah and to command them to be shomer mitzvot, keeping the Torah of Moshe Rabbenu.
6And the Moshiachʼs Shlichim and the Zekenim were gathered together as a council to consider this matter. 7And after much deliberation had taken place, Moshiachʼs Shliach Shim'on Kefa got up. Kefa said to them, Anashim, Achim b'Moshiach, you have da'as that in the early days Hashem chose that among you I would be the one and through my mouth the Goyim would hear the dvar Hashem of the Besuras HaGeulah and would come to emunah.#15:7 in the Orthodox Jewish faith 8And the One who has da'as of levavot, Hashem, bore solemn edut and stood as their witness, having given the non-Jews the Ruach Hakodesh just as Hashem did also to us Jews.#15:8 Ac 2:4; 10:46; 11:15-16 9And in making tehorot their levavot by emunah, in this respect Hashem did not differentiate between us Jews and those non-Jews. 10Therefore, now why are you testing Hashem by laying an ol (yoke) upon the neck of the talmidim which neither Avoteinu nor we were able to bear?#15:10 Dt 9:5-6; Jer 31:31-34 11On the contrary, Anu Ma'aminim (We believe) that we Jews come to Yeshu'at Eloheinu by the Chen v'Chesed Hashem of the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu in the same Derech Hashem as those non-Jews do also.#15:11 Ro 3:9,30; Ga 3:12-13; Isa 53:9-12; Pp 3:9; Dt 9:4-6; Lk 18:11-12
12And then all the multitude was silent and they were listening to Bar-Nabba and Rav Sha'ul describing what otot and moftim Hashem did among the Nations through them. 13And after Rav Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba fell silent, Moshiachʼs Shliach Ya'akov#15:13 See Mt 13:55 responded, saying, Anashim, Achim b'Moshiach, listen to me. 14Shim'on explained how Hashem first concerned Himself to receive from the Nations a people for SHMO.#15:14 Zech 6:12 15And this is in agreement with the devarim of the Nevi'im, just as it has been written, 16After these things I will return and AKIM ES SUKKAT DOVID HANOFELET VHARISOTAV AKIM U'VENITIHA (I will restore the tent of Dovid which has fallen and the things having been torn down of it I will rebuild and I will restore it), 17So that the she'erit (remnant) of anashim might seek Hashem and all the GOYIM who are called by my Name, 18Says the L-rd, who makes these things known from long ago.#15:18 Am 9:11f Targum HaShivim, 12; Jer 12:15; Isa 45:21 19Therefore, it is my judgment not to trouble the ones from the Goyim turning in teshuva to Hashem, 20But to write to them to keep away from the pollution of elilim and of zenut and of the thing strangled and of dahm.#15:20 Lv 3:17; 7:26; 17:10-13; 19:26; Dt 12:16,23 21For Moshe Rabbenu from ancient dorot in every shtetl has his maggidim and in the shuls every Shabbos he has been read.
22Then it was mekabel (received) by the Moshiachʼs Shlichim and the Zekenim with the entire Kehillah to choose anashim from them to send to Syrian Antioch with Rav Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba, also Yehudah called Bar-Sabba, and Sila, all manhigim among the Achim b'Moshiach, 23With the following iggeret: From the Achim b'Moshiach, Moshiachʼs Shlichim and the Zekenim: to the Achim b'Moshiach throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, to those from among the Nations, Shalom! 24Vi-bahlt (since) we heard that certain men had gone out from us, though not having any directives from us, and have given you mitzvot with devarim unsettling your nefashot (souls), 25It was mekabel to us, having come to achdus in mind and having chosen anashim to send to you, along with our beloved chaverim Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul, 26Anashim who have imperiled their lives for haShem of Moshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua. 27Therefore we have sent Yehudah and Sila, and they too will confirm us in person by word of mouth. 28For it was mekabel to the Ruach Hakodesh and to us to lay no heavier burden upon you who are from the Nations except these necessary things: 29That you non-Jewish ma'aminim hameshichiyim keep away from meat sacrificed to elilim, and dahm, and what is strangled, and zenut. If you are shomer to avoid these, you will do well. Shalom!
30Therefore, having been dismissed, they went down to Syrian Antioch, and having gathered together the multitude, they delivered the iggeret. 31And having read it, there was a response of simcha gedolah at the exhortation. 32Both Yehudah and Sila, being themselves nevi'im hameshichiyim also, with many devarim comforted the Achim b'Moshiach and gave them chizzuk. 33And after they had spent considerable time, they were dismissed with shalom from the Achim b'Moshiach and sent back to the ones having dispatched them.#15:33 1Sm 1:17 [34Notwithstanding it seemed tov to Sila to remain there.] 35And Rav Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba were staying in Syrian Antioch saying shiurim and drashot with also many others, the content of these being the dvar Hashem.
36And after some yamim Rav Sha'ul said to Bar-Nabba, Letʼs return, then, and visit the Achim b'Moshiach throughout every city in which we proclaimed the dvar Hashem to see how they are doing. 37And Bar-Nabba was deciding to take along also Yochanan called Markos. 38But Rav Sha'ul was insisting not to take along this one, the one having withdrawn from them from Pamphylia, not having gone with them to the avodas kodesh ministry of the Moshiachʼs Shlichus. 39And there was a sharp disagreement so that they were separated from one another, and Bar-Nabba took Markos and sailed away to Cyprus. 40And Rav Sha'ul chose Sila and departed, having been commended to the Chen v'Chesed Hashem by the Achim b'Moshiach. 41And they were traveling through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the Moshiachʼs Kehillot.
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