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Job 11-12
New American Standard Bible

Zophar Rebukes Job

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite responded,

2 “Shall a multitude of words go unanswered,
And a (A)talkative man be acquitted?
3 Shall your boasts silence people?
And will you (B)scoff, and no one rebuke?
4 For (C)you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,
And (D)I am innocent in your eyes.’
5 But if only God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
6 And show you the secrets of wisdom!
For sound wisdom [a](E)has two sides.
Know then that God [b]forgets part of (F)your guilt.

7 “(G)Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are as (H)high as [c]the heavens; what can you do?
Deeper than [d](I)Sheol; what can you know?
9 Its measurement is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.
10 If He passes by or apprehends people,
Or calls an assembly, (J)who can restrain Him?
11 For (K)He knows false people,
And He (L)sees injustice [e]without investigating.
12 [f](M)An idiot will become intelligent
When a (N)wild donkey is born a human.

13 “(O)If you would (P)direct your heart rightly
And (Q)spread out your hands to Him,
14 If wrongdoing is in your hand, (R)put it far away,
And do not let malice dwell in your tents;
15 Then, indeed, you could (S)lift up your face without moral blemish,
And you would be firmly established and (T)not fear.
16 For you would (U)forget your trouble;
Like (V)waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
17 Your [g]life would [h]be (W)brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.
18 Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.
19 You would (X)lie down and none would disturb you,
And many would [i](Y)flatter you.
20 But the (Z)eyes of the wicked will fail,
And [j]there will (AA)be no escape for them;
And their (AB)hope is [k](AC)to breathe their last.”

Job Chides His Accusers

12 Then Job responded,

2 “Truly then (AD)you are the people,
And with you wisdom will die!
3 But (AE)I have intelligence as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
And [l]who does not know such things as these?
4 I am a (AF)joke to [m]my friends,
The one who called on God and He answered him;
The just and (AG)blameless man is a joke.
5 [n]He who is at ease holds disaster in contempt,
As prepared for those whose feet slip.
6 The (AH)tents of the destroyers prosper,
And those who provoke God (AI)are secure,
[o]Whom God brings (AJ)into their power.

7 “But just ask the animals, and have them teach you;
And the birds of the sky, and have them tell you.
8 Or speak to the earth, and have it teach you;
And have the fish of the sea tell you.
9 Who among all these does not know
That (AK)the hand of the Lord has done this,
10 (AL)In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And (AM)the breath of all mankind?
11 Does (AN)the ear not put words to the test,
As the palate [p]tastes its food?
12 Wisdom is with the (AO)aged,
And with [q]long life comes understanding.

Job Speaks of the Power of God

13 “(AP)Wisdom and (AQ)might are with Him;
Advice and (AR)understanding belong to Him.
14 Behold, He (AS)tears down, and it cannot be rebuilt;
He [r](AT)imprisons a person, and [s]there is no release.
15 Behold, He (AU)restrains the waters, and they dry up;
And He (AV)sends them out, and they [t]inundate the earth.
16 Strength and sound wisdom are with Him.
One who (AW)goes astray and one who leads astray belong to Him.
17 He makes (AX)advisers walk [u]barefoot
And makes fools of (AY)judges.
18 He (AZ)undoes the binding of kings,
And ties a loincloth around their waist.
19 He makes priests walk [v]barefoot,
And overthrows (BA)the secure ones.
20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And (BB)takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He (BC)pours contempt on nobles,
And (BD)loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He (BE)reveals mysteries from the darkness,
And brings the deep darkness into light.
23 He (BF)makes the nations great, then destroys them;
He [w]enlarges the nations, then leads them away.
24 He (BG)deprives the leaders of the earth’s people of [x]intelligence
And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.
25 They (BH)grope in darkness with no light,
And He makes them (BI)stagger like a drunken person.

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:6 Lit is double
  2. Job 11:6 Lit causes to be forgotten for you
  3. Job 11:8 Lit the heights of heaven
  4. Job 11:8 I.e., the netherworld
  5. Job 11:11 Or and does not investigate
  6. Job 11:12 Lit A hollow man
  7. Job 11:17 Lit lifespan
  8. Job 11:17 Lit rise above noonday
  9. Job 11:19 Lit soften your face
  10. Job 11:20 Lit escape has perished from them
  11. Job 11:20 Lit the expiring of the soul
  12. Job 12:3 Lit with whom is there not like these?
  13. Job 12:4 Lit his
  14. Job 12:5 Lit Contempt for calamity is the thought of him who is at ease
  15. Job 12:6 Or He who brings God into his hand.
  16. Job 12:11 Lit tastes food for itself
  17. Job 12:12 Lit length of days
  18. Job 12:14 Lit shuts against
  19. Job 12:14 Lit it is not opened
  20. Job 12:15 Lit overturn
  21. Job 12:17 Or stripped
  22. Job 12:19 Or stripped
  23. Job 12:23 Or spreads out
  24. Job 12:24 Lit heart
Listen to Job 11-12, Acts 15-16
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Job 11-12
New International Version

Zophar

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:

2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?(C)
3 Will your idle talk(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?(E)
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless(F)
    and I am pure(G) in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.(J)

7 “Can you fathom(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher(L) than the heavens(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below(N)—what can you know?(O)
9 Their measure(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.(Q)

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt(T) can be born human.[a](U)

13 “Yet if you devote your heart(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands(W) to him,(X)
14 if you put away(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil(Z) to dwell in your tent,(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(AB)
    you will stand firm(AC) and without fear.(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest(AI) in safety.(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(AK)
    and many will court your favor.(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(AM)
    and escape will elude them;(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”(AO)

Job

12 Then Job replied:

2 “Doubtless you are the only people who matter,
    and wisdom will die with you!(AP)
3 But I have a mind as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know all these things?(AQ)

4 “I have become a laughingstock(AR) to my friends,(AS)
    though I called on God and he answered(AT)—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!(AU)
5 Those who are at ease have contempt(AV) for misfortune
    as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.(AW)
6 The tents of marauders are undisturbed,(AX)
    and those who provoke God are secure(AY)—
    those God has in his hand.[b]

7 “But ask the animals, and they will teach you,(AZ)
    or the birds in the sky,(BA) and they will tell you;(BB)
8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.
9 Which of all these does not know(BC)
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?(BD)
10 In his hand is the life(BE) of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.(BF)
11 Does not the ear test words
    as the tongue tastes food?(BG)
12 Is not wisdom found among the aged?(BH)
    Does not long life bring understanding?(BI)

13 “To God belong wisdom(BJ) and power;(BK)
    counsel and understanding are his.(BL)
14 What he tears down(BM) cannot be rebuilt;(BN)
    those he imprisons cannot be released.(BO)
15 If he holds back the waters,(BP) there is drought;(BQ)
    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.(BR)
16 To him belong strength and insight;(BS)
    both deceived and deceiver are his.(BT)
17 He leads rulers away stripped(BU)
    and makes fools of judges.(BV)
18 He takes off the shackles(BW) put on by kings
    and ties a loincloth[c] around their waist.(BX)
19 He leads priests away stripped(BY)
    and overthrows officials long established.(BZ)
20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers
    and takes away the discernment of elders.(CA)
21 He pours contempt on nobles(CB)
    and disarms the mighty.(CC)
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness(CD)
    and brings utter darkness(CE) into the light.(CF)
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;(CG)
    he enlarges nations,(CH) and disperses them.(CI)
24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;(CJ)
    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.(CK)
25 They grope in darkness with no light;(CL)
    he makes them stagger like drunkards.(CM)

Footnotes

  1. Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame
  2. Job 12:6 Or those whose god is in their own hand
  3. Job 12:18 Or shackles of kings / and ties a belt
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Job 10
Job 13
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Acts 15-16
New American Standard Bible

The Council in Jerusalem

15 (A)Some men came down from Judea and began teaching (B)the brothers, “Unless you are (C)circumcised according to (D)the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had [a]a heated argument and (E)debate with them, (F)the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the (G)apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, after being (H)sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both (I)Phoenicia and Samaria, (J)describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all (K)the brothers and sisters. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, (L)the apostles, and the elders, and they (M)reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of (N)the sect of the (O)Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to (P)circumcise [b]them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”

6 (Q)The apostles and the elders came together to [c]look into this [d]matter. 7 After there had been much (R)debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “[e]Brothers, you know that [f]in the early days (S)God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of (T)the gospel and believe. 8 And God, (U)who knows the heart, testified to them (V)giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and (W)He made no distinction between us and them, (X)cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Since this is the case, why are you (Y)putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which (Z)neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through (AA)the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were (AB)relating all the (AC)signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

James’ Judgment

13 After they stopped speaking, [g](AD)James responded, saying, “[h]Brothers, listen to me. 14 (AE)Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15 The words of (AF)the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:

16 ‘(AG)After these things (AH)I will return,
And I will rebuild the fallen [i]tabernacle of David,
And I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will restore it,
17 (AI)So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
And all the Gentiles [j](AJ)who are called by My name,’
18 (AK)Says the Lord, who [k](AL)makes these things known from long ago.

19 Therefore, it is (AM)my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from [l](AN)things contaminated by idols, from (AO)acts of sexual immorality, from (AP)what has been [m]strangled, and from blood. 21 For (AQ)from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since [n]he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22 Then it seemed good to (AR)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to (AS)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and (AT)Silas, leading men among (AU)the brothers, 23 and they [o]sent this letter with them:

“(AV)The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to (AW)the brothers and sisters in (AX)Antioch, (AY)Syria, and (AZ)Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: (BA)Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that (BB)some [p]of our number to whom we gave no instruction have (BC)confused you by their [q]teaching, upsetting your souls, 25 (BD)it seemed good to us, having [r]become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have [s](BE)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore, we have sent (BF)Judas and (BG)Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For (BH)it seemed good to (BI)the Holy Spirit and to (BJ)us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from (BK)things sacrificed to idols, from (BL)blood, from (BM)things strangled, and from (BN)acts of sexual immorality; [t]if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent away, (BO)they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the [u]congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its [v]encouragement. 32 (BP)Judas and (BQ)Silas, also being (BR)prophets themselves, [w]encouraged and strengthened (BS)the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message. 33 After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters (BT)in peace to those who had (BU)sent them out.[x] 35 But (BV)Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and (BW)preaching (BX)the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Second Missionary Journey

36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in (BY)every city in which we proclaimed (BZ)the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take (CA)John, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had (CB)deserted them [y]in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took (CC)Mark with him and sailed away to (CD)Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose (CE)Silas, and left after being (CF)entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he was traveling through (CG)Syria and (CH)Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

The Macedonian Vision

16 Now Paul also came to (CI)Derbe and to (CJ)Lystra. And a disciple was there, named (CK)Timothy, the son of a (CL)Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, 2 and he was well spoken of by (CM)the brothers and sisters who were in (CN)Lystra and (CO)Iconium. 3 Paul wanted this man to leave with him; and he (CP)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Now while they were passing through the cities, they were delivering (CQ)the ordinances for them to follow which had been determined by (CR)the apostles and (CS)elders in Jerusalem. 5 So (CT)the churches were being strengthened [z]in the faith, and were (CU)increasing in number daily.

6 They passed through the [aa](CV)Phrygian and (CW)Galatian region, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [ab](CX)Asia; 7 and after they came to (CY)Mysia, they were trying to go into (CZ)Bithynia, and the (DA)Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; 8 and passing by (DB)Mysia, they went down to (DC)Troas. 9 (DD)And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of (DE)Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen (DF)the vision, (DG)we immediately sought to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to (DH)preach the gospel to them.

11 So after setting sail from (DI)Troas, we ran (DJ)a straight course to Samothrace, and on the following day to Neapolis; 12 and from there to (DK)Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of (DL)Macedonia, (DM)a Roman colony; and we were spending some days in this city. 13 And on (DN)the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were thinking that there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.

First Convert in Europe

14 A woman named Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of (DO)Thyatira, and (DP)a worshiper of God. [ac]The Lord (DQ)opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 Now when she and (DR)her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

16 It happened that as we were going to (DS)the place of prayer, a slave woman who had (DT)a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing great profit to her masters by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us and cried out repeatedly, saying, “These men are bond-servants of (DU)the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation.” 18 Now she continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and he turned and said to the spirit, “I command you (DV)in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very [ad]moment.

19 But when her masters saw that their hope of (DW)profit was suddenly gone, they seized (DX)Paul and Silas and (DY)dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities, 20 and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, Jews as they are, are causing our city trouble, 21 and they (DZ)are proclaiming customs that are not lawful for us to accept or to practice, since we are (EA)Romans.”

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

22 The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their [ae]robes off them and proceeded to order [af]them to be (EB)beaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding (EC)the jailer to guard them securely; 24 [ag]and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in (ED)the [ah]stocks.

25 Now about midnight (EE)Paul and Silas were praying and (EF)singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly (EG)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately (EH)all the doors were opened, and everyone’s (EI)chains were unfastened. 27 When (EJ)the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about (EK)to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And the jailer asked for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear, he fell down before (EL)Paul and Silas; 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, (EM)what must I do to be saved?”

The Jailer Converted

31 They said, “(EN)Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and (EO)your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of God to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them (EP)that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set [ai]food before them, and was [aj]overjoyed, since he had become a believer in God together with (EQ)his whole household.

35 Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their officers, saying, “Release those men.” 36 And (ER)the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent word that you be released. So come out now and go (ES)in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “After beating us in public without due process—(ET)men who are Romans—they threw us into prison; and now they are releasing us secretly? No indeed! On the contrary, let them come [ak]in person and lead us out.” 38 The officers reported these words to the chief magistrates. (EU)And they became fearful when they heard that they were Romans, 39 and they came and pleaded with them, and when they had led them out, they repeatedly asked them (EV)to leave the city. 40 They left the prison and entered the house of (EW)Lydia, and when they saw (EX)the brothers and sisters, they [al]encouraged them and departed.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:2 Lit no little
  2. Acts 15:5 I.e., Gentile believers
  3. Acts 15:6 Lit see about
  4. Acts 15:6 Lit word
  5. Acts 15:7 Lit Men, brothers
  6. Acts 15:7 Lit from days of old
  7. Acts 15:13 Or Jacob
  8. Acts 15:13 Lit Men, brothers
  9. Acts 15:16 Or tent
  10. Acts 15:17 Lit upon whom My name is called
  11. Acts 15:18 Or does these things which were known
  12. Acts 15:20 Lit the pollutions of
  13. Acts 15:20 I.e., to retain the blood
  14. Acts 15:21 I.e., the books of Moses, Gen through Deut
  15. Acts 15:23 Lit wrote by their hand
  16. Acts 15:24 Lit from us
  17. Acts 15:24 Lit words
  18. Acts 15:25 Or met together
  19. Acts 15:26 Lit given over
  20. Acts 15:29 Lit from which keeping yourselves free
  21. Acts 15:30 Or multitude
  22. Acts 15:31 Or exhortation
  23. Acts 15:32 Or exhorted
  24. Acts 15:33 Late mss add as v 34: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
  25. Acts 15:38 Lit from
  26. Acts 16:5 Or in faith
  27. Acts 16:6 Or Phrygia and the Galatian region
  28. Acts 16:6 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  29. Acts 16:14 Lit Whose heart the Lord opened
  30. Acts 16:18 Lit hour
  31. Acts 16:22 Or outer garments
  32. Acts 16:22 Lit to beat with rods
  33. Acts 16:24 Lit who
  34. Acts 16:24 Lit wood
  35. Acts 16:34 Lit a table
  36. Acts 16:34 Or overjoyed together with his whole household, since...God
  37. Acts 16:37 Lit themselves
  38. Acts 16:40 Or exhorted
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Acts 15-16
New International Version

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Certain people(A) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:(B) “Unless you are circumcised,(C) according to the custom taught by Moses,(D) you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem(E) to see the apostles and elders(F) about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia(G) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.(H) This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.(I)

5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party(J) of the Pharisees(K) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”(L)

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.(M) 8 God, who knows the heart,(N) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,(O) just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them,(P) for he purified their hearts by faith.(Q) 10 Now then, why do you try to test God(R) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke(S) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace(T) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders(U) God had done among the Gentiles through them.(V) 13 When they finished, James(W) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.(X) 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16 “‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’[b](Y)—
18     things known from long ago.[c](Z)

19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,(AA) from sexual immorality,(AB) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(AC) 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”(AD)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and elders,(AE) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(AF) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(AG) men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,(AH) Syria(AI) and Cilicia:(AJ)

Greetings.(AK)

24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(AL) 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives(AM) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(AN) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(AO) and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.(AP) You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas,(AQ) who themselves were prophets,(AR) said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace(AS) to return to those who had sent them. [34] [d] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached(AT) the word of the Lord.(AU)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns(AV) where we preached the word of the Lord(AW) and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,(AX) with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them(AY) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas(AZ) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.(BA) 41 He went through Syria(BB) and Cilicia,(BC) strengthening the churches.(BD)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,(BE) where a disciple named Timothy(BF) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer(BG) but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers(BH) at Lystra and Iconium(BI) spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.(BJ) 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders(BK) in Jerusalem(BL) for the people to obey.(BM) 5 So the churches were strengthened(BN) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.(BO)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia(BP) and Galatia,(BQ) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.(BR) 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(BS) would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.(BT) 9 During the night Paul had a vision(BU) of a man of Macedonia(BV) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we(BW) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel(BX) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11 From Troas(BY) we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi,(BZ) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[e] of Macedonia.(CA) And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath(CB) we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira(CC) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart(CD) to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household(CE) were baptized,(CF) she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,(CG) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit(CH) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,(CI) who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.(CJ)

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money(CK) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(CL) and dragged(CM) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(CN) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(CO) to accept or practice.”(CP)

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(CQ) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(CR) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(CS)

25 About midnight(CT) Paul and Silas(CU) were praying and singing hymns(CV) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.(CW) At once all the prison doors flew open,(CX) and everyone’s chains came loose.(CY) 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.(CZ) 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.(DA) 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(DB)

31 They replied, “Believe(DC) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(DD)—you and your household.”(DE) 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night(DF) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.(DG) 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he(DH) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer(DI) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”(DJ)

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,(DK) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.(DL) 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.(DM) 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,(DN) where they met with the brothers and sisters(DO) and encouraged them. Then they left.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
  2. Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  3. Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things’— / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
  4. Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.
  5. Acts 16:12 The text and meaning of the Greek for the leading city of that district are uncertain.
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