1Kým boli Pavol a Barnabáš v Antiochii, prišli niektorí ľudia z Judska a začali poúčať bratov: „Ak sa nedáte obrezať, ako to predpisuje Mojžišov zákon, nemôžete byť spasení.“2Pavol a Barnabáš s nimi nesúhlasili a vypukol medzi nimi spor. Napokon sa rozhodli, že Pavol a Barnabáš aj s niekoľkými bratmi z Antiochie odcestujú do Jeruzalema a predložia tento problém apoštolom a starším.3Zbor sa s nimi rozlúčil a vyslal ich na cestu. Šli cez Feníciu a Samáriu a všade rozprávali o tom, ako aj pohania začínajú veriť v Pána Ježiša, a tým spôsobovali všetkým veľkú radosť.4VJeruzaleme ich srdečne prijali starší zboru aj apoštoli. Aj tým rozprávali, ako sa Boh priznáva k ich práci medzi pohanmi.5Ale hneď sa ozvali niektorí kresťania, bývalí farizeji, a navrhli: „Aj obrátení pohania sa musia dať obrezať a dodržiavať všetky židovské zákony.“6A tak apoštoli a starší zboru zvolali poradu, aby rozriešili tento ťažký problém.7Po dlhej debate sa prihlásil o slovo Peter: „Milí bratia, viete veľmi dobre, že si ma Boh vybral, aby som prvý z vás zvestoval evanjelium pohanom, aby aj oni mohli uveriť.8A Boh, ktorý vidí do srdca človeka, sa k nim priznal a dal im Svätého Ducha takisto ako nám.9A nerobil nijaký rozdiel medzi Židmi a pohanmi, lebo aj ich srdce očistil vierou.10Prečo teraz pokúšate Boha a chcete vložiť na nových kresťanov bremeno, ktoré nevládali uniesť ani naši otcovia, ani my?11Veríme predsa, že sme rovnako ako oni zachránení milosťou Pána Ježiša.“12Po tejto reči celé zhromaždenie stíchlo a pozorne vypočulo Pavla aj Barnabáša, aké veľké zázraky konal Boh prostredníctvom nich medzi pohanmi.
Jakubov návrh
13Keď dohovorili, prihlásil sa o slovo Jakub: „Bratia, rád by som vám niečo povedal.14Práve sme počuli od Petra, ako Boh urobil prvý krok a pohanov prijal medzi tých, ktorí ctia jeho meno.15To sa celkom zhoduje so slovami proroka Amosa:16‚Navrátim sa zase a znovu postavím Dávidov zborený dom, ako bol predtým,17aby aj ostatní ľudia hľadali Pána, všetky národy, ktoré som prijal za svoje. Tak hovorí Pán,18ktorý to oznámil už pred vekmi.‘19Preto sa nazdávam, že by sme nemali na pohanov, ktorí sa obrátili k Bohu, nakladať zbytočné bremená.20Radšej by sme im mali napísať, aby sa vyhýbali všetkému, čo súvisí s pohanskou modloslužbou, aby sa chránili smilstva a nejedli mäso zadusených zvierat ani ich krv.21Veď Mojžišov zákon sa už oddávna vyučuje každú sobotu v synagógach a má dosť horlivých zástancov.“22S týmto návrhom celé zhromaždenie súhlasilo a apoštoli a starší zboru rozhodli, že zvolia dvoch zástupcov a pošlú ich s Pavlom a Barnabášom do Antiochie, aby im osobne oznámili, na čom sa uzniesli. Zvolili dvoch popredných bratov z vedenia zboru, a to Júdu nazývaného Barsabáš a Sílasa. Po nich poslali tento list:23„My apoštoli a starší, vaši bratia, posielame srdečný pozdrav vám, svojim bratom v Antiochii, Sýrii a Cilícii, ktorí ste boli kedysi pohanmi.24Dozvedeli sme sa, že vás niektorí naši bratia svojimi rečami rozrušili a spochybnili vaše spasenie, hoci ich tým nikto nepoveril.25Preto sme sa jednomyseľne rozhodli, že zvolíme dvoch zástupcov a pošleme ich k vám s našimi milovanými bratmi Barnabášom a Pavlom,26ktorí pri hlásaní evanjelia ochotne riskujú aj vlastný život.27Posielame vám teda Júdu a Sílasa, ktorí vám to aj ústne potvrdia.28Pod vedením Svätého Ducha sme spoločne rozhodli, že vás nikto nemá zaťažovať povinnosťami, ktoré nie sú pre spasenie nevyhnutné.29Ale je potrebné, aby ste sa zdržiavali všetkého, čo bolo obetované modlám, krvi, mäsa udusených zvierat, nezbavených krvi, a napokon smilstva. Ak sa toho všetkého vyvarujete, budete konať správne. Majte sa dobre.“30Poverení zástupcovia sa teda vybrali do Antiochie, kde zvolali celé zhromaždenie a odovzdali im list.31Keď ho bratom prečítali, veľmi sa zaradovali, lebo ich upokojil.32Aj Júda a Sílas, ktorým Duch Svätý vnukol prorocké slová, posilňovali a povzbudzovali celý zbor vo viere.33Nejaký čas tam zostali a potom ich bratia so želaním pokoja prepustili.34Ale Sílas zostal radšej v Antiochii.35Aj Pavol a Barnabáš sa tu ešte zdržali, zostali ešte v Antiochii a spolu s mnohými ďalšími vyučovali a zvestovali Krista.
Pavol a Sílas na druhej misijnej ceste
36Po nejakom čase navrhol Pavol Barnabášovi: „Navštívme opäť našich bratov vo všetkých mestách, kde sme kázali o Pánu Ježišovi. Rád by som videl, ako sa im darí.“37Barnabáš súhlasil a radil, aby spolu so sebou zasa vzali Jána zvaného Marek.38Ale Pavol bol proti tomu, lebo Marek ich opustil už v Pamfýlii a nepokračoval s nimi v práci.39Nemohli sa dohodnúť, a tak sa radšej rozdelili. Barnabáš vzal so sebou Marka a odplavili sa na Cyprus.40Pavol si vybral Sílasa a s požehnamím bratov sa vydali na cestu. Prechádzali Sýriou a Cilíciou a všade upevňovali zbory.
1But 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.” (Lv 12,3; Jn 21,23; Sk 6,14; Sk 15,3; Sk 15,5; Sk 15,22; Sk 15,24; Sk 15,36; Sk 15,40; 1 Kor 7,18; Gal 2,11; Gal 2,14; Gal 5,2)2And 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. (Sk 5,12; Sk 11,30; Sk 15,4; Sk 15,6; Sk 15,7; Sk 15,22; Sk 16,4; Gal 2,1)3So, 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] (Sk 11,18; Sk 14,27; Sk 15,1; Sk 17,15; Sk 21,5; Rim 15,24; 1 Kor 16,6; 1 Kor 16,11; 2 Kor 1,16; Tit 3,13; 3 Jn 1,6)4When 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. (Sk 15,2; Sk 15,3; Sk 21,17)5But 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.” (Sk 15,1; Sk 24,5; Gal 5,3)6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. (Sk 15,4; Sk 15,12; Sk 15,25)7And 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. (Sk 10,20; Sk 15,2; Sk 20,24; Ef 1,13; Kol 1,5; 1 Sol 1,5)8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, (Sk 1,24; Sk 10,44; Sk 10,47; Sk 11,15; Sk 11,17; Sk 14,3; Sk 15,28; Gal 3,2)9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. (Ž 51,10; Sk 10,28; Sk 10,34; Sk 10,43; Sk 11,12; Sk 26,18; Rim 3,22; 2 Kor 7,1; Ef 3,6; 1 Pt 1,22)10Now, 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? (Ž 106,14; Iz 7,12; Mt 11,28; Mt 23,4; Lk 11,46; Sk 15,28; Gal 5,1)11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Sk 15,9; Sk 16,31; Rim 3,24; Rim 5,15; Ef 2,5; Ef 2,8; 1 Sol 5,9; 2 Tim 1,9; Tit 2,11; Tit 3,7)12And 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. (Sk 14,27; Sk 15,4)13After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. (Sk 12,17)14Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. (Dt 7,6; Iz 43,21; Sk 15,7; Sk 18,10; Rim 9,24)15And 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)17that 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 (Iz 43,7; Jer 14,9; Dan 9,19; Sk 17,27)18known from of old.’ (Iz 45,21)19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, (Sk 14,15; Sk 15,28)20but 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. (Lv 3,17; Ez 4,13; Dan 1,8; Mal 1,7; Mal 1,12; Sk 15,29; Sk 21,25; 1 Kor 6,18; 1 Kor 10,7; Zjv 2,14; Zjv 2,20)21For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” (Sk 13,15; Sk 13,27; 2 Kor 3,14)
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22Then 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, (Sk 1,23; Sk 15,1; Sk 15,2; 1 Pt 5,12)23with 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. (Sk 15,22; Sk 23,26; Jak 1,1; 2 Jn 1,10)24Since 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, (Sk 15,1; Gal 1,7; Gal 2,4; Gal 5,10; Gal 5,12; Tit 1,10)25it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, (Sk 1,14; 2 Pt 3,15)26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Sk 9,23; Sk 14,19; Sk 20,24; Sk 21,13; 2 Kor 4,11; 1 Jn 3,16)27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. (Sk 15,22; Sk 15,32)28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: (Jn 16,13; Sk 5,32; Sk 15,8; Sk 15,10; Sk 15,19; 1 Kor 7,40; Zjv 2,24)29that 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.” (Sk 15,20; Sk 21,25; 1 Kor 8,1; 1 Kor 8,4; 1 Kor 8,7; 1 Kor 8,10; 1 Kor 10,19; Zjv 2,14; Zjv 2,20)30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.32And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. (Sk 13,1; Sk 14,22; Sk 15,1)33And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.[5] (Gn 26,29; Sk 15,32; 1 Kor 16,11; Hebr 11,31)35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. (Sk 13,1)
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36And 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.” (Sk 13,4; Sk 13,13; Sk 13,51; Sk 14,6; Sk 14,24; Sk 15,32)37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. (Sk 12,12)38But 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. (Sk 13,13)39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, (Sk 17,16; Kol 4,10)40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. (Sk 11,23; Sk 14,26; Sk 15,1; Sk 15,11; Rim 16,20)41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (Sk 15,32; Sk 16,5)