Acts 15 — TCENT

The Jerusalem Council

15Verse 1Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers: “If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”^{Verse 2+}Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had a great dissension and debate with them, the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among the believers to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to discuss this issue.^{Verse 3}After being sent on their way by the church, they passed through⁺Phoenicia and Samaria and brought great joy to all the brothers when they described in detail the conversion of the Gentiles.^{Verse 4}When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done through⁺them.^{Verse 5}But some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and command them to keep the law of Moses.”^{Verse 6}So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.^{Verse 7}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⁺us, that by the words of my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe.^{Verse 8}And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.^{Verse 9}He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.^{Verse 10}Now then, 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?^{Verse 11}On the contrary, we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord⁺Jesus in the same way they are.”^{Verse 12}Then the entire assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell of all the signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles.^{Verse 13}When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.^{Verse 14}Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.^{Verse 15}The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, just as it is written:^{Verse 16}‘After this I will return
and rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins
and erect it again,
^{Verse 17}so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who⁺does⁺all these things.’^{Verse 18}All God's works are known to him from long ago.^{Verse 19}Therefore my judgment is that we not create difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,^{Verse 20}but that we write to them, telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols, from fornication, from what has been strangled, and from blood.^{Verse 21}For from generations of old, Moses has had those who preach him in every city, because he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The Letter to Gentile Believers

^{Verse 22}Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas (called⁺Barsabbas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers,^{Verse 23}and to send with them⁺this letter they had written: “The⁺apostles, elders, and brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.^{Verse 24}Since we have heard that certain⁺men, whom we did not authorize, have gone out from us and troubled you with their words, unsettling your minds⁺by saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law,^{Verse 25}it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to⁺send you men chosen from among us, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,^{Verse 26}who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{Verse 27}Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in their own words.^{Verse 28}For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials:^{Verse 29}You must abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”^{Verse 30}So when these men had been sent off, they⁺went to Antioch, and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.^{Verse 31}When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.^{Verse 32}Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.^{Verse 33}After spending some time there, they were sent off⁺to the apostles in peace by the⁺brothers.^{Verse 35}But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, along with many others, the good news of the word of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas Part Company

^{Verse 36}After some days had gone by, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit⁺our brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”^{Verse 37}Now Barnabas wanted to bring John,⁺who was called Mark.^{Verse 38}But Paul thought it best not to bring this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them in their work.^{Verse 39}So there arose a sharp disagreement, with the result that they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus,^{Verse 40}but Paul chose Silas and departed, once he had been committed by the brothers to the grace of⁺God.^{Verse 41}And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.