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Acts 15

New International Reader’s Version



1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch. Here is what they were teaching the believers. ‘Moses commanded you to be circumcised,’ they said. ‘If you aren’t, you can’t be saved.’ 2 But Paul and Barnabas didn’t agree with this. They argued strongly with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem. Some other believers were chosen to go with them. They were told to ask the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way. They travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria. There they told how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. Then Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them. 5 Some of the believers were Pharisees. They stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised. They must obey the law of Moses.’ 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After they had talked it over, Peter got up and spoke to them. ‘Brothers’, he said, ‘you know that some time ago God chose me. He appointed me to take the good news to the Gentiles. He wanted them to hear the good news and believe. 8 God knows the human heart. By giving the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, he showed that he accepted them. He did the same for them as he had done for us. 9 God showed that there is no difference between us and them. That’s because he made their hearts pure because of their faith. 10 Now then, why are you trying to test God? You test him when you put a heavy load on the shoulders of Gentiles. Our people of long ago couldn’t carry that load. We can’t either. 11 No! We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus. The Gentiles are saved in the same way.’ 12 Everyone became quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul. They were telling about the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 When they finished, James spoke up. ‘Brothers’, he said, ‘listen to me. 14 Simon Peter has explained to us what God has now done. He has chosen some of the Gentiles to be among his very own people. 15 The prophets’ words agree with that. They say, 16 ‘ “After this I will return and set up again David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild what was destroyed. I will make it what it used to be. 17 Then everyone else can look to the Lord. This includes all the Gentiles who belong to me, says the Lord. The Lord is the one who does these things.” (Am 9:11; Am 9:12) 18 The Lord does things that have been known from long ago. 19 ‘Now here is my decision. We should not make it hard for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Here is what we should write to them. They must not eat food that has been made impure by being offered to statues of gods. They must not commit sexual sins. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not drink blood. 21 These laws of Moses have been preached in every city from the earliest times. They are read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day.’ 



22 Then the apostles, the elders and the whole church decided what to do. They would choose some of their own men who were leaders among the believers. They would send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. So they chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas. They were leaders among the believers. 23 Here is the letter they sent with them. The apostles and elders, your brothers, are writing this letter. We are sending it to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Greetings. 24 We have heard that some of our people came to you and caused trouble. You were upset by what they said. But we had given them no authority to go. 25 So we all agreed to send our dear friends Barnabas and Paul to you. We chose some other men to go with them. 26 Barnabas and Paul have put their lives in danger. They did it for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 So we are sending Judas and Silas with them. What they say will agree with this letter. 28 Here is what seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us. We will not give you a load that is too heavy. So here are a few basic rules. 29 Don’t eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. Don’t drink blood. Don’t eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And don’t commit sexual sins. You will do well to keep away from these things. Farewell. 30 So the men were sent down to Antioch. There they gathered the church together. They gave the letter to them. 31 The people read it. They were glad for its message of hope. 32 Judas and Silas were prophets. They said many things to give strength and hope to the believers. 33-34 Judas and Silas stayed there for some time. Then the believers sent them away with the blessing of peace. They sent them back to those who had sent them out. 35 Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. There they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. 



36 Some time later Paul spoke to Barnabas. ‘Let’s go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord,’ he said. ‘Let’s visit the believers and see how they are doing.’ 37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. 38 But Paul didn’t think it was wise to take him. Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. He hadn’t continued with them in their work. 39 Barnabas and Paul strongly disagreed with each other. So they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas. The believers asked the Lord to give his grace to Paul and Silas as they went. 41 Paul travelled through Syria and Cilicia. He gave strength to the churches there. 

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Acts 15

English Standard Version



1 But 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.” (Le 12:3; Joh 21:23; Ac 6:14; Ac 15:3; Ac 15:5; Ac 15:22; Ac 15:24; Ac 15:36; Ac 15:40; 1Co 7:18; Ga 2:11; Ga 2:14; Ga 5:2) 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. (Ac 5:12; Ac 11:30; Ac 15:4; Ac 15:6; Ac 15:7; Ac 15:22; Ac 16:4; Ga 2:1) 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.[1] (Ac 11:18; Ac 14:27; Ac 15:1; Ac 17:15; Ac 21:5; Ro 15:24; 1Co 16:6; 1Co 16:11; 2Co 1:16; Tit 3:13; 3Jo 1:6) 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. (Ac 15:2; Ac 15:3; Ac 21:17) 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” (Ac 15:1; Ac 24:5; Ga 5:3) 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. (Ac 15:4; Ac 15:12; Ac 15:25) 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. (Ac 10:20; Ac 15:2; Ac 20:24; Eph 1:13; Col 1:5; 1Th 1:5) 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, (Ac 1:24; Ac 10:44; Ac 10:47; Ac 11:15; Ac 11:17; Ac 14:3; Ac 15:28; Ga 3:2) 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (Ps 51:10; Ac 10:28; Ac 10:34; Ac 10:43; Ac 11:12; Ac 26:18; Ro 3:22; 2Co 7:1; Eph 3:6; 1Pe 1:22) 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? (Ps 106:14; Isa 7:12; Mt 11:28; Mt 23:4; Lu 11:46; Ac 15:28; Ga 5:1) 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Ac 15:9; Ac 16:31; Ro 3:24; Ro 5:15; Eph 2:5; Eph 2:8; 1Th 5:9; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 2:11; Tit 3:7) 12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. (Ac 14:27; Ac 15:4) 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. (Ac 12:17) 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. (De 7:6; Isa 43:21; Ac 15:7; Ac 18:10; Ro 9:24) 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, (Jer 12:15; Am 9:11) 17 that the remnant[2] of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things (Isa 43:7; Jer 14:9; Da 9:19; Ac 17:27) 18 known from of old.’ (Isa 45:21) 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, (Ac 14:15; Ac 15:28) 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. (Le 3:17; Eze 4:13; Da 1:8; Mal 1:7; Mal 1:12; Ac 15:29; Ac 21:25; 1Co 6:18; 1Co 10:7; Re 2:14; Re 2:20) 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” (Ac 13:15; Ac 13:27; 2Co 3:14) 



22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, (Ac 1:23; Ac 15:1; Ac 15:2; 1Pe 5:12) 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers[3] who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. (Ac 15:22; Ac 23:26; Jas 1:1; 2Jo 1:10) 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you[4] with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, (Ac 15:1; Ga 1:7; Ga 2:4; Ga 5:10; Ga 5:12; Tit 1:10) 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (Ac 1:14; 2Pe 3:15) 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ac 9:23; Ac 14:19; Ac 20:24; Ac 21:13; 2Co 4:11; 1Jo 3:16) 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. (Ac 15:22; Ac 15:32) 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (Joh 16:13; Ac 5:32; Ac 15:8; Ac 15:10; Ac 15:19; 1Co 7:40; Re 2:24) 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” (Ac 15:20; Ac 21:25; 1Co 8:1; 1Co 8:4; 1Co 8:7; 1Co 8:10; 1Co 10:19; Re 2:14; Re 2:20) 30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. (Ac 13:1; Ac 14:22; Ac 15:1) 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.[5] (Ge 26:29; Ac 15:32; 1Co 16:11; Heb 11:31) 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. (Ac 13:1) 



36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” (Ac 13:4; Ac 13:13; Ac 13:51; Ac 14:6; Ac 14:24; Ac 15:32) 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. (Ac 12:12) 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. (Ac 13:13) 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, (Ac 17:16; Col 4:10) 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. (Ac 11:23; Ac 14:26; Ac 15:1; Ac 15:11; Ro 16:20) 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Ac 15:32; Ac 16:5) 

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