Acts 15

The Jerusalem Council

1  a But some men came down from Judea and were teaching b the brothers, “Unless you are c circumcised d according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and e debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and f some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to g the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So h being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria i describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and j brought great joy to all k the brothers. ▼
▼ Or  brothers and sisters; also verse 22
 4  m When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and n the apostles and the elders, and o they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to p the party of the Pharisees rose up and said q “It is necessary r to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

6  s The t apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much u debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you v that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear w the word of x the gospel and believe. 8 And God y who knows the heart z bore witness to them aa by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and ab he made no distinction between us and them ac having cleansed their hearts ad by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why ae are you putting God to the test af by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples ag that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we ah believe that we will be ai saved through aj the grace of the Lord Jesus ak just as they will.”

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul al as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking am James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14  an Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them ao a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

16  ap “‘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,
 17 that the remnant ▼
▼ Or rest
 of mankind ar may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles as who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18  at known from of old.’

19 Therefore au my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who av turn to God, 20 but should write to them aw to abstain from ax the things polluted by idols, and from ay sexual immorality, and from az what has been strangled, and from ba blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him bb for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then it seemed good to bc 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 bd Barsabbas, and be Silas, leading men among bf the brothers, 23 with the following letter: bg “The brothers, both bh the apostles and the elders, to the brothers ▼
▼ Or  brothers and sisters; also verses 32, 33, 36
 who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, bj greetings. 24 Since we have heard that bk some persons have gone out from us and bl troubled you ▼
▼ Some manuscripts  some persons from us have troubled you
 with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come bn to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our bo beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26  bp men who have bq risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent br Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good bs to the Holy Spirit and bt to us bu to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29  bv that you abstain from bw 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.”

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 bx prophets, encouraged and by strengthened bz the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off ca in peace by cb the brothers to those who had sent them. ▼
▼ Some manuscripts insert verse 34: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there
 35 But cd Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit ce the brothers cf in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them cg John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one ch who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose ci a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. cj Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed ck having been commended by cl the brothers to cm the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia cn strengthening the churches.

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