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! ” 2But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy. # 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, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers.
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 from 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
6Then the apostles and the elders assembled 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, # Other mss read us that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving # Other mss add 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 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.”
12Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing 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 # 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:
16After these things I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins
and set it up again,
17so the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord —
even all the Gentiles
who are called by My name,
declares the Lord who does these things,
18known from long ago. # Other mss read says the Lord who does all these things. Known to God from long ago are all His works. # Is 45:21; Jr 14:9; Dn 9:19; Am 9:11-12 # Am 9:11-12; Is 45:21
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 this letter to be delivered by them: # Lit Writing by their hand:
From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: # Ac 15:1; 23:26; Jms 1:1
Greetings.
24Because 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, # 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. # Lit things through word 28For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision — and ours — to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things: # 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
30Then, being sent off, they 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 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 to those who had sent them. # Other mss read the brothers to the apostles # 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 message 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 in every town # Ac 13:4,13-14,51; 14:6,24 where we have preached the message of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. # Lit John who was called Mark 38But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39There was 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. 40Then Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers. # 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: HCSB
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Acts 15
15
Controversy about Moses’ Teachings
1Some men came from Judea and started to teach believers that people can’t be saved unless they are circumcised as Moses’ Teachings require. 2Paul and Barnabas had a fierce dispute with these men. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were sent to Jerusalem to see the apostles and spiritual leaders #15:2 Or “pastors,” or “elders.” about this claim.
3The church sent Paul and Barnabas ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. As they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of how non-Jewish people were turning to God. This story brought great joy to all the believers.
4The church in Jerusalem, the apostles, and the spiritual leaders welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they arrived. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had done through them. 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “People who are not Jewish must be circumcised and ordered to follow Moses’ Teachings.”
6The apostles and spiritual leaders met to consider this statement. 7After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren’t Jewish could hear the Good News and believe. 8God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren’t Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us. 9God doesn’t discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews. 10So why are you testing God? You’re putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry. 11We certainly believe that the Lord Jesus saves us the same way that he saves them—through his kindness.” #15:11 Or “grace.”
12The whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the miracles and amazing things that God had done through them among non-Jewish people.
13After they finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon has explained how God first showed his concern by taking from non-Jewish people those who would honor his name. 15This agrees with what the prophets said. Scripture says,
16‘Afterwards, I will return.
I will set up David’s fallen tent again.
I will restore its ruined places again.
I will set it up again
17so that the survivors and all the people who aren’t Jewish
over whom my name is spoken,
may search for the Lord, declares the Lord.
18He is the one who will do these things that have always been known!’
19“So I’ve decided that we shouldn’t trouble non-Jewish people who are turning to God. 20Instead, we should write a letter telling them to keep away from things polluted by false gods, from sexual sins, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from eating bloody meat. 21After all, Moses’ words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of rest—a holy day.”
22Then the apostles, the spiritual leaders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to the city of Antioch. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, who were leaders among the believers. 23They wrote this letter for them to deliver:
From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers.
To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
Dear brothers and sisters, 24We have heard that some individuals who came from us have confused you with statements that disturb you. We did not authorize these men ⌞to speak⌟. 25So we have come to a unanimous decision that we should choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul. 26Barnabas and Paul have dedicated their lives to our Lord, the one named Jesus Christ. 27We have sent Judas and Silas to report to you on our decision. 28The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to place any additional burdens on you. Do only what is necessary 29by keeping away from food sacrificed to false gods, from eating bloody meat, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sins. If you avoid these things, you will be doing what’s right.
Farewell!
30So the men were sent on their way and arrived in the city of Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 31When the people read the letter, they were pleased with the encouragement it brought them. 32Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, spoke a long time to encourage and strengthen the believers.
33After Judas and Silas had stayed in Antioch for some time, the congregation sent them back to Jerusalem with friendly greetings to those who had sent them.#15:33 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 34: “But Silas decided to stay there, and Judas went back to Jerusalem alone.” 35Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught people about the Lord’s word and spread the Good News.
Paul and Barnabas Disagree
36After a while Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back to every city where we spread the Lord’s word. We’ll visit the believers to see how they’re doing.”
37Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along. 38However, Paul didn’t think it was right to take a person like him along. John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to work. 39Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus. 40Paul chose Silas and left after the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s care.#15:40 Or “grace.”
41Paul went through the provinces of Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.
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