15
1 Some
men came down
from Judea and
taught the brothers,
“Unless you are
circumcised after
the custom of
Moses, you can’t
be saved.”
2 Therefore
when Paul
and Barnabas had
no small discord
and discussion
with them, they
appointed Paul, Barnabas,
and some others
of them to
go up to
Jerusalem to
the apostles and
elders about this
question.
3 They,
being sent on
their way by
the assembly,
passed through
both Phoenicia and
Samaria, declaring
the conversion of
the Gentiles. They
caused great joy
to all
the brothers.
4 When
they had come
to Jerusalem, they
were received by
the assembly and
the apostles and
the elders, and
they reported everything
that God had
done with them.
5 But
some of the sect
of the Pharisees
who believed rose
up, saying, “It
is necessary to
circumcise them,
and to command
them to keep
the law of
Moses.”
6 The apostles
and the elders
were gathered
together to see
about this matter.
7 When
there had been
much discussion,
Peter rose up
and said to
them, “Brothers, you
know that a
good while ago God
made a choice
among you that
by my mouth
the nations
should hear the
word of the
Good News and
believe.
8 God,
who knows the
heart, testified
about them, giving
them the Holy
Spirit, just like
he did to
us.
9 He
made no
distinction between
us and them,
cleansing their
hearts by faith.
10 Now
therefore why do
you tempt God,
that you should
put a yoke
on the neck
of the disciples
which neither our
fathers nor we
were able to bear?
11 But
we believe that
we are saved
through the grace
of the Lord
Jesus,
just as they
are.”
12 All
the multitude kept
silence, and
they listened to Barnabas
and Paul reporting
what signs and
wonders God had
done among the
nations through
them.
13 After
they were silent,
James answered, “Brothers, listen
to me.
14 Simeon
has reported how
God first visited
the nations to
take out of
them a people
for his name.
15 This agrees
with the words
of the prophets.
As it is
written,
16 ‘After
these things I
will return.
I will again build
the tabernacle of
David, which has
fallen.
I will again build
its ruins.
I will set
it up
17 that
the rest of
men may seek
after the Lord:
all the Gentiles
who are called
by my name,
says the Lord,
who does all
these things.’
18 “All
of God’s works are known
to him from eternity.
19 Therefore
my judgment is
that we don’t
trouble those from
among the Gentiles
who turn to
God,
20 but
that we write
to them that
they abstain from
the pollution of
idols, from sexual
immorality, from
what is strangled,
and from blood.
21 For
Moses from
generations of old
has in every
city those who
preach him,
being read in the
synagogues every
Sabbath.”
22 Then
it seemed good
to the apostles
and the elders,
with the whole
assembly, to
choose men out
of their company,
and send them
to Antioch with
Paul and Barnabas:
Judas called Barsabbas,
and Silas, chief
men among
the brothers.
23 They
wrote these things
by their hand:
“The apostles, the
elders, and
the brothers, to
the brothers who
are of the
Gentiles in Antioch,
Syria, and Cilicia:
greetings.
24 Because
we have heard that
some who went
out from us
have troubled you
with words, unsettling
your souls, saying,
‘You must
be circumcised and keep
the law,’ to whom
we gave no
commandment;
25 it
seemed good to
us, having come
to one accord,
to choose out
men and send
them to you
with our beloved Barnabas
and Paul,
26 men
who have risked
their lives for
the name of
our Lord Jesus
Christ.
27 We
have sent
therefore Judas
and Silas, who
themselves will
also tell you the
same things by
word of mouth.
28 For
it seemed good
to the Holy
Spirit, and to
us, to lay
no greater burden
on you than
these necessary
things:
29 that
you abstain from
things sacrificed
to idols,
from blood, from
things strangled,
and from sexual
immorality, from
which if you
keep yourselves,
it will be
well with you.
Farewell.”
30 So,
when they were
sent off, they
came to Antioch.
Having gathered
the multitude
together, they
delivered the
letter.
31 When
they had read it,
they rejoiced over
the encouragement.
32 Judas
and Silas, also
being prophets
themselves, encouraged
the brothers with
many words and
strengthened them.
33 After
they had spent
some time there,
they were dismissed
in peace from
the brothers to
the apostles.
34
35 But
Paul and Barnabas
stayed in Antioch,
teaching and
preaching the word
of the Lord,
with many others
also.
36 After
some days Paul
said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now
and visit
our brothers in
every city in
which we
proclaimed the
word of the
Lord, to see how
they are doing.”
37 Barnabas
planned to take
John, who was
called Mark, with
them also.
38 But
Paul didn’t think
that it was
a good idea to
take with
them someone who
had withdrawn from
them in Pamphylia,
and didn’t go
with them to
do the work.
39 Then
the contention grew
so sharp that
they separated from
each other. Barnabas
took Mark with
him and sailed
away to Cyprus,
40 but
Paul chose Silas
and went out,
being commended by
the brothers to
the grace of
God.
41 He
went through Syria
and Cilicia,
strengthening the
assemblies.