Acts 15

1 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2 Therefore after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

6 So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

7 After much debate, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among us that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

16 ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’

18 Known for ages to God are all His works.

19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

23 and sent them with this letter: The apostles, elders, and brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law.

25 So we all agreed to send chosen men to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:

29 You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

30 So the men were sent off and went to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.

31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to the apostles.

35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit our brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

37 Barnabas wanted to take John called Mark.

38 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

1 ¶ And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When 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.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And 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.

5 But 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.

6 ¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 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 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now 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?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then 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.

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 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:

17 That 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.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 ¶ Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And 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 Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 Forasmuch 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:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That 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.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them].

33 And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 ¶ And 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.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

1 And certain came down from Judea, and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 And when there was a tumult, and Paul and Barnabas had no small quarrel with them, they commanded that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders for this question.

3 And they were led by the church, and went through Phoenicia and Samaria, and told the manner of the Gentiles, and made all the brethren great joy.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles, and of the elders. And they declared how much God had done for them.

5 And there arose certain of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, and said: They must be circumcised, and commanded to keep the law of Moses.

6 But the apostles and elders came together to consider this speech.

7 And when they had long contended, Peter arose, and said unto them: Men, brethren, ye know that God hath long before this time shewed among us that by my mouth the Gentiles heard the word of the gospel, and believed.

8 And God, the Saviour of hearts, testified against them, and gave them the Holy Spirit, even as He gave us.

9 And made no distinction between us and them, and purified their hearts by faith.

10 Why then do ye tempt God by putting a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11 But we believe that by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they.

12 Then all the multitude held their peace, and hearkened unto Paul and Barnabas, which told how great signs and wonders God had done by them among the Gentiles.

13 After this, when they had held their peace, James answered and said: Ye men, brethren, hear me.

14 Simon hath told how at the first God visited and accepted a people out of the Gentiles unto his name.

15 And the words of the prophets are according to that which is written:

16 And afterward I will come again, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is broken down, and the breaches thereof will I build again, and will raise it up.

17 That whatsoever is left of men may inquire of the LORD, and of all the heathen concerning whom my name is called, saith the LORD that doeth all these things.

18 God is aware of all His works from the world.

19 Therefore I decree that they which turn unto God from among the heathen be not troubled,

20 But write unto them, that they abstain from uncleanness of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses hath of old time been preached in all the cities that preach him, and is read every sabbath day in the synagogues:

22 And it seemed good unto the apostles and elders, and to all the church, to choose of them men, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, even Judas, whose surname was Barsabas, and Silas, which men were teachers among the brethren.

23 And they gave writing in their hand, saying, We the apostles, and elders, and brethren, wish salvation unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles, which are in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia.

24 Because we have heard that some of our own have gone out, and have deceived you with doctrines, and have destroyed your souls, saying that ye ought to be circumcised, and to keep the law, which we have not commanded.

25 It hath seemed good unto us, gathered together with one accord, to choose men, and to send them unto you with our beloved; Barnabas and Paul,

26 Which men have offered up their souls for the name of our Lord JEsu Christ.

27 Thus have we sent Judas and Silas, who also shall declare the same things with words.

28 For it pleaseth the Holy Ghost, and us, to lay no more burden upon you, but these necessary things,

29 That ye abstain from things sacrificed unto idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which, if ye abstain, ye do well. Fare ye well.

30 And when these were finished, they came to Antioch, and gathered the multitude together, and delivered the letter.

31 And when they read it, they were glad of comfort.

32 And Judas and Silas, which were also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many sayings, and strengthened them.

33 And when they had passed away for a season, they were sent away in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 And it pleased Silas to tarry there.

35 And Paul and Barnabas had their being at Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the LORD with many others.

36 And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again, and see our brethren through all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the LORD, how they keep themselves.

37 And Barnabas gave counsel that they should take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul saw fit that they should not take with them such a one as departed from them in Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And they came together sharply, so that they departed from one another: and Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus.

40 And Paul chose Silas, and went, commanded of the brethren by the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, and strengthened the churches.