Acts 15
15
The Meeting at Jerusalem
1 #
Lev 12.3
Some men came from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, “You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised as the Law of Moses requires.” 2Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter.
3They were sent on their way by the church; and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported how the Gentiles had turned to God; this news brought great joy to all the believers. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them. 5But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.”
6The apostles and the elders met together to consider this question. 7#Acts 10.1–43After a long debate Peter stood up and said, “My brothers and sisters, you know that a long time ago God chose me from among you to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, so that they could hear and believe. 8#Acts 2.4; 10.44And God, who knows the thoughts of everyone, showed his approval of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had to us. 9He made no difference between us and them; he forgave their sins because they believed. 10So then, why do you now want to put God to the test by laying a load on the backs of the believers which neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? 11No! We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
12The whole group was silent as they heard Barnabas and Paul report all the miracles and wonders that God had performed through them among the Gentiles. 13When they had finished speaking, James spoke up: “Listen to me, my brothers and sisters! 14Simon has just explained how God first showed his care for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people to belong to him. 15The words of the prophets agree completely with this. As the scripture says:
16 #
Amos 9.11–12 (LXX) ‘After this I will return, says the Lord,
and restore the kingdom of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
and make it strong again.
17And so all the rest of the human race will come to me,
all the Gentiles whom I have called to be my own.
18So says the Lord, who made this known long ago.’
19“It is my opinion,” James went on, “that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20#Ex 34.15–17; Lev 17.10–16; 18.6–23Instead, we should write a letter telling them not to eat any food that is ritually unclean because it has been offered to idols; to keep themselves from sexual immorality; and not to eat any animal that has been strangled, or any blood. 21For the Law of Moses has been read for a very long time in the synagogues every Sabbath, and his words are preached in every town.”
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
22Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, 23and they sent the following letter by them:
“We, the apostles and the elders, your brothers, send greetings to all our brothers of Gentile birth who live in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 24We have heard that some who went from our group have troubled and upset you by what they said; they had not, however, received any instruction from us. 25And so we have met together and have all agreed to choose some messengers and send them to you. They will go with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26who have risked their lives in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We send you, then, Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things we are writing. 28The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to put any other burden on you besides these necessary rules: 29eat no food that has been offered to idols; eat no blood; eat no animal that has been strangled; and keep yourselves from sexual immorality. You will do well if you take care not to do these things. With our best wishes.”
30The messengers were sent off and went to Antioch, where they gathered the whole group of believers and gave them the letter. 31When the people read it, they were filled with joy by the message of encouragement. 32Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke a long time with them, giving them courage and strength. 33After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the believers and went back to those who had sent them.#15.33 Some manuscripts add verse 34: But Silas decided to stay there.
35Paul and Barnabas spent some time in Antioch, and together with many others they taught and preached the word of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit our brothers and sisters in every town where we preached the word of the Lord, and let us find out how they are getting on.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, 38#Acts 13.13but Paul did not think it was right to take him, because he had not stayed with them to the end of their mission, but had turned back and left them in Pamphylia. 39There was a sharp argument, and they separated: Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus, 40while Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the care of the Lord's grace. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Acts 15
15
The Council in Jerusalem
1#Ac 15:5; 15:24Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised in the tradition of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2#Ac 15:22–23; 15:4; 15:6–7Therefore 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. 3#Ac 14:27; 21:5So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers. 4#Ac 14:27; 15:12When 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.
5#Ac 15:1Then 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.”
6#Ac 15:25The apostles and elders assembled to consider this matter. 7#Ac 15:2; 10:20After much disputing, 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. 8#Ac 1:24; 2:4God, who knows the heart, approved of them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, 9#Ac 10:28; 10:34and made no distinction between them and us, and purified their hearts by faith. 10#Mt 23:4; Gal 5:1Now 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? 11#Ro 3:24; 2Co 13:14But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”
12#Ac 14:27; 15:4The entire assembly remained silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13#Ac 12:17After they had become silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 14#Isa 43:21; 2Pe 1:1Simon has declared how God first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people for His name. 15With this the words of the prophets agree. As it is written:
16#Am 9:11–12 ‘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; Jer 12:15.
17#Isa 43:7 that the rest of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,#Am 9:12; Dt 28:10; Isa 63:19; Jer 14:9; Da 9:19.
says the Lord who does all these things.’#Am 9:11–12.
18Known to God are all His works since the beginning of the world.
19#Ac 15:28“Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20#Lev 3:17; Ac 15:29; Ge 9:4but that we write to them to abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. 21#Ac 13:15; 13:27For Moses has had in every city since early generations those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Reply of the Council
22#Ac 15:27; 15:32; 15:40Then 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, leading men among the brothers. 23#Ac 23:26; Jas 1:1They 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.
24#Ac 15:1; Gal 1:7Since we have heard that some of us, whom we did not commission, have gone out and have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law,” 25#Ac 1:14; 2Pe 3:15it seemed good to us, being assembled in unity, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26#Ac 14:19; 9:23–25men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27#Ac 15:22Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also speak to you, saying the same things. 28#Jn 16:13; Ac 5:32For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put on you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29#Ac 15:20; 21:25; Rev 2:14Abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. 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. 32#Ac 11:23; 13:1Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, exhorted the brothers with many words and strengthened them. 33#1Co 16:11; Ac 16:36After they had remained there for a time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to the apostles. 34But it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35#Ac 13:1And Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36#Ac 13:4; 13:13–14After 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.” 37#Ac 12:12Barnabas determined to take with them John, who was called Mark. 38#Ac 13:13But 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. 39#Ac 4:36Then there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40#Ac 14:26; 15:22but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. 41#Ac 15:23; 15:32And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
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