15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
15:2 And after Paul and Barnabas had ①a heated argument and debate with them, the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.
▷ ①Lit no little
15:3 Therefore, after being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
15:4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
15:5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise ①them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”
▷ ①I.e., Gentile believers
15:6 The apostles and the elders came together to ①look into this ②matter.
▷ ①Lit see about ②Lit word
15:7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “ ①Brothers, you know that ②in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
▷ ①Lit Men, brothers ②Lit from days of old
15:8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;
15:9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
15:10 Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
15:11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
15:12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.
15:13 After they stopped speaking, ①James responded, saying, “ ②Brothers, listen to me.
▷ ①Or Jacob ②Lit Men, brothers
15:14 Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles.
15:15 The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:
15:16 ‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return,
AND I WILL REBUILD THE FALLEN ①TABERNACLE OF DAVID,
AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,
AND I WILL RESTORE IT,
▷ ①Or tent
15:17 SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,
AND ALL THE GENTILES ①WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME,’
▷ ①Lit upon whom My name is called
15:18 SAYS THE LORD, WHO ①MAKES THESE THINGS known from long ago.
▷ ①Or does these things which were known
15:19 Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,
15:20 but that we write to them that they abstain from ①things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been ②strangled, and from blood.
▷ ①Lit the pollutions of ②I.e., to retain the blood
15:21 For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since ①he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
▷ ①I.e., the books of Moses, Gen through Deut
15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
15:23 and they ①sent this letter with them: “The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to the brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: Greetings.
▷ ①Lit wrote by their hand
15:24 Since we have heard that some ①of our number to whom we gave no instruction have confused you by their ②teaching, upsetting your souls,
▷ ①Lit from us ②Lit words
15:25 it seemed good to us, having ①become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
▷ ①Or met together
15:26 men who have ①risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
▷ ①Lit given over
15:27 Therefore, we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth.
15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
15:29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from acts of sexual immorality; ①if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
▷ ①Lit from which keeping yourselves free
15:30 So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the ①congregation together, they delivered the letter.
▷ ①Or multitude
15:31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its ①encouragement.
▷ ①Or exhortation
15:32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, ①encouraged and strengthened the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message.
▷ ①Or exhorted
15:33 After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters in peace to those who had sent them out. ①
▷ ①Late mss add as v 34: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
15:34
15:35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
15:36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
15:37 Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also.
15:38 But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had deserted them ①in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
▷ ①Lit from
15:39 Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.
15:40 But Paul chose Silas, and left after being entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
15:41 And he was traveling through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.