Acts 15
15
1Then some men arrived from Judea who started teaching the believers, “Unless you're circumcised according to the rules set down by Moses, you can't be saved.” 2Paul and Barnabas had many arguments and debates with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go to Jerusalem and talk to the apostles and leaders there about this issue. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they explained how foreigners were being converted, which made all the believers very happy. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church members, the apostles, and the elders. They explained everything God had done through them. 5But they were opposed by some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee faction. They said, “These converts have to be circumcised, and instructed to observe the law of Moses.”
6The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue. 7After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me from among you so that the foreigners could hear the message of good news and trust in Jesus. 8God, who knows what we're thinking,#15:8. Or “knows the way we think.” has shown that he accepts them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us. 9He doesn't make any distinction between us and them—he cleansed their thoughts as they trusted in him.
10So why do you want to oppose God and put a burden on the believers that our fathers weren't able to bear, and we can't either? 11We're convinced that we're saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.” 12Everyone listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they explained the miraculous signs that God had performed through them among the foreigners.
13After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon#15:14. Simon Peter. has described how God first revealed his concern for the foreigners by taking from them a people committed to him. 15This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written, 16‘In the future I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen house of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it straight. 17I will do this so that those who are left may come to the Lord, including the foreigners who call on my name. 18This is what the Lord says, who revealed these things long ago.’#15:18. Quoting Amos 9:11-12.
19So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God. 20We should write to them and tell them to avoid food sacrificed to idols,#15:20. Literally, “pollutions of idols.” sexual immorality, meat of animals that have been strangled, and from consuming blood. 21For the law of Moses has been taught in every town for a long, long time—it's read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, decided it would be good to choose some representatives and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, 23and sent them with this letter:
“Greetings from us, the apostles and elders and brothers, to the non-Jewish#15:23. Literally, “Gentile.” brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: 24We have heard that some from our group have confused you with their teachings, causing you trouble. We certainly didn't tell them to do this! 25So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul, 26who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27So we are sending to you Judas and Silas who can verbally confirm what we're saying. 28It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements. 29You should avoid: anything sacrificed to idols; blood; meat from strangled animals; and sexual immorality. You will do well to observe these requirements. God bless you.”
30The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter. 31After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message. 32Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them. 33After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem. 34#15:34. Verse 34 is not thought to be part of the original. 35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the believers in every town where we shared the word of the Lord, and see how they're doing.” 37Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too. 38But Paul didn't think it was a good idea to take him with them, since he'd left them in Pamphylia and hadn't continued working with them. 39They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus. 40Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord. 41Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Acts 15
15
The Council at Jerusalem
1 #
Lev 12.3. And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoeni´cia 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 of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7#Acts 10.1-43. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8#Acts 10.44; Acts 2.4. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14Simeon hath declared how God at the first 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,
16 #
Amos 9.11,12. After this I will return,
and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down;
and I will build again the ruins thereof,
and I will set it up:
17that the residue of men might seek after the Lord,
and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20#Exod 34.15-17; Lev 18.6-23; Lev 17.10-16. but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to An´ti-och with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23and they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in An´ti-och and Syria and Cili´cia: 24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandment: 25it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men 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 shall also tell you the same things by 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 meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30So when they were dismissed, they came to An´ti-och: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.#15.34 This verse is not found in all early manuscripts. 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in An´ti-och, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Paul Separates from Barnabas and Begins the Second Missionary Journey
36And some days after, Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38#Acts 13.13. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphyl´i-a, and went not with them to the work. 39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40and Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41And he went through Syria and Cili´cia, confirming the churches.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.