ACT 15
15
The Jerusalem Council
1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and began teaching the believers: "Unless you undergo circumcision according to Moses' tradition, you cannot be saved."
2 This created sharp conflict and intense debate between them and Paul and Barnabas. It was decided that Paul and Barnabas, along with certain other believers, should travel to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders regarding this controversy.
3 The church provided for their journey. As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they described how the Gentiles had turned to God, bringing great joy to all the believers.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church, the apostles, and the elders. They reported everything God had accomplished through them.
5 But some believers from the Pharisee party stood up and insisted, "It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to observe the Law of Moses."
6 The apostles and elders convened to examine this matter.
7 After extensive discussion, Peter stood up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.
8 God, who knows the human heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts through faith.
10 Why, then, are you now testing God by placing on the disciples' necks a burden that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
11 On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are."
12 The entire assembly fell silent and listened as Barnabas and Paul described all the miraculous signs and wonders God had performed among the Gentiles through them.
13 After they finished speaking, James responded: "Brothers, hear me.
14 Simeon has explained how God first showed concern for taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.
15 The prophets' words agree with this, as it is written:
16 'After these things I will return
and rebuild David's fallen dwelling.
I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord,
including all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
says the Lord, who makes these things
18 known from ancient times.'*
19 Therefore, my judgment is that we should not create difficulties for those Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 Instead, we should write to them to abstain from things contaminated by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
22 Then the apostles and elders, together with the entire church, decided to select representatives from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leading men among the believers.
23 They sent this letter with them:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 We have learned that certain individuals went out from us without our authorisation and have disturbed you with their teaching, unsettling your minds.
25 Therefore, we have unanimously decided to select representatives and send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul—
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
27 We are therefore sending Judas and Silas, who will convey the same message orally.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to place no greater burden on you than these essential requirements:
29 abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.
30 So these men were sent off and travelled down to Antioch. They gathered the congregation and delivered the letter.
31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement it brought.
32 Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, spoke at length to encourage and strengthen the believers.
33 After spending some time there, they were sent back peacefully by the believers to those who had commissioned them.*
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the Lord's message along with many others.
36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the Lord's message, to see how they are doing."
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, along with them.
38 But Paul did not think it wise to take him, since he had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
39 Their disagreement became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 while Paul selected Silas and departed, having been commended by the believers to the Lord's grace.
41 He travelled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations.
Notes
16-18 Quoted from Amos 9:11-12
34 Textual evidence indicates that verse 34 is a later interpolation,as it is not found in the earliest manuscripts. The verse reads, " But it seemed expedient to Silas to remain there."
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ACT 15: AFINT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
ACT 15
15
The Jerusalem Council
1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and began teaching the believers: "Unless you undergo circumcision according to Moses' tradition, you cannot be saved."
2 This created sharp conflict and intense debate between them and Paul and Barnabas. It was decided that Paul and Barnabas, along with certain other believers, should travel to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders regarding this controversy.
3 The church provided for their journey. As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, they described how the Gentiles had turned to God, bringing great joy to all the believers.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church, the apostles, and the elders. They reported everything God had accomplished through them.
5 But some believers from the Pharisee party stood up and insisted, "It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to observe the Law of Moses."
6 The apostles and elders convened to examine this matter.
7 After extensive discussion, Peter stood up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe.
8 God, who knows the human heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts through faith.
10 Why, then, are you now testing God by placing on the disciples' necks a burden that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
11 On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are."
12 The entire assembly fell silent and listened as Barnabas and Paul described all the miraculous signs and wonders God had performed among the Gentiles through them.
13 After they finished speaking, James responded: "Brothers, hear me.
14 Simeon has explained how God first showed concern for taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name.
15 The prophets' words agree with this, as it is written:
16 'After these things I will return
and rebuild David's fallen dwelling.
I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord,
including all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
says the Lord, who makes these things
18 known from ancient times.'*
19 Therefore, my judgment is that we should not create difficulties for those Gentiles who are turning to God.
20 Instead, we should write to them to abstain from things contaminated by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
22 Then the apostles and elders, together with the entire church, decided to select representatives from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leading men among the believers.
23 They sent this letter with them:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 We have learned that certain individuals went out from us without our authorisation and have disturbed you with their teaching, unsettling your minds.
25 Therefore, we have unanimously decided to select representatives and send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul—
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
27 We are therefore sending Judas and Silas, who will convey the same message orally.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to place no greater burden on you than these essential requirements:
29 abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.
30 So these men were sent off and travelled down to Antioch. They gathered the congregation and delivered the letter.
31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement it brought.
32 Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, spoke at length to encourage and strengthen the believers.
33 After spending some time there, they were sent back peacefully by the believers to those who had commissioned them.*
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the Lord's message along with many others.
36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the Lord's message, to see how they are doing."
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, along with them.
38 But Paul did not think it wise to take him, since he had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
39 Their disagreement became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 while Paul selected Silas and departed, having been commended by the believers to the Lord's grace.
41 He travelled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the congregations.
Notes
16-18 Quoted from Amos 9:11-12
34 Textual evidence indicates that verse 34 is a later interpolation,as it is not found in the earliest manuscripts. The verse reads, " But it seemed expedient to Silas to remain there."
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).