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Acts 15:6-29
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Acts 15:6-29
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Jerusalem Council
6 Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: “Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you,[a] that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving[b] the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us.(A) 9 He made no distinction between us and them,(B) cleansing their hearts by faith.(C) 10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks(D) that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace(E) of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.(F) 13 After they stopped speaking, James responded: “Brothers, listen to me! 14 Simeon[c] has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name.(G) 15 And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 After these things I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
I will rebuild its ruins
and set it up again,
17 so the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles
who are called by My name,
declares the Lord who does these things,
18 known from long ago.[d](H)[e]
19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,(I) from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.”(J)
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,(K) both leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote this letter to be delivered by them:[f]
From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:(L)
Greetings.
24 Because we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us(M) and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,[g](N) 25 we have unanimously(O) decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives(P) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.[h] 28 For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things:(Q) 29 that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.(R) You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.
Farewell.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:7 Other mss read us
- Acts 15:8 Other mss add them
- Acts 15:14 Simon (Peter)
- Acts 15:18 Other mss read says the Lord who does all these things. Known to God from long ago are all His works.
- Acts 15:18 Am 9:11-12; Is 45:21
- Acts 15:23 Lit Writing by their hand:
- Acts 15:24 Other mss add by saying, “Be circumcised and keep the law,”
- Acts 15:27 Lit things through word
Acts 15:6-29
New International Version
Acts 15:6-29
New International Version
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.(A) 8 God, who knows the heart,(B) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,(C) just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them,(D) for he purified their hearts by faith.(E) 10 Now then, why do you try to test God(F) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke(G) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace(H) 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(I) God had done among the Gentiles through them.(J) 13 When they finished, James(K) 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.(L) 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](M)—
18 things known from long ago.[c](N)
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,(O) from sexual immorality,(P) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(Q) 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.”(R)
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders,(S) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(T) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(U) 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,(V) Syria(W) and Cilicia:(X)
Greetings.(Y)
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(Z) 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(AA) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(AB) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(AC) 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.(AD) You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
- Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
- Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things’— / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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