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Acts 13-15
Christian Standard Bible
Acts 13-15
Christian Standard Bible
Preparing for the Mission Field
13 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch,(A) and Saul.
2 As they were worshiping[a] the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”(B) 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.(C)
The Mission to Cyprus
4 So being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 Arriving in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John as their assistant.(D) 6 When they had traveled the whole island as far as Paphos, they came across a sorcerer, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.(E) 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.(F) 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (that is the meaning of his name) opposed(G) them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.(H)
9 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at Elymas 10 and said, “You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery, you son of the devil(I) and enemy of all that is right. Won’t you ever stop perverting the straight paths(J) of the Lord? 11 Now, look, the Lord’s hand is against you.(K) You are going to be blind, and will not see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.
12 Then, when he saw what happened, the proconsul believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.(L)
Paul’s Sermon in Antioch of Pisidia
13 Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.(M) 14 They continued their journey from Perga and reached Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.(N) 15 After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, you can speak.”(O)
16 Paul stood up and motioned with his hand and said, “Fellow Israelites, and you who fear God, listen!(P) 17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors, made the people prosper during their stay in the land of Egypt, and led them out of it with a mighty[b] arm.(Q) 18 And for about forty years he put up with them[c] in the wilderness;(R) 19 and after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan,(S) he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 This all took about 450 years. After this, he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.(T) 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.(U) 22 After removing him,(V) he raised up David as their king and testified about him, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart,[d](W) who will carry out all my will.’
23 “From this man’s descendants, as he promised, God brought to Israel(X) the Savior, Jesus.[e] 24 Before his coming to public attention, John had previously proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.(Y) 25 Now as John was completing his mission, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But one is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.’(Z)
26 “Brothers and sisters, children of Abraham’s race, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the word of this salvation has been sent.(AA) 27 Since the residents of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him or the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath, they have fulfilled their words by condemning him.(AB) 28 Though they found no grounds for the death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him killed.(AC) 29 When they had carried out all that had been written about him, they took him down from the tree and put him in a tomb.(AD) 30 But God raised him from the dead,(AE) 31 and he appeared for many days to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.(AF) 32 And we ourselves proclaim to you the good news of the promise that was made to our ancestors.(AG) 33 God has fulfilled this for us, their children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm:
34 As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way, I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.[h](AI) 35 Therefore he also says in another passage, You will not let your Holy One see decay.[i](AJ) 36 For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep,(AK) was buried with his fathers, and decayed,(AL) 37 but the one God raised up did not decay. 38 Therefore, let it be known to you, brothers and sisters, that through this man forgiveness of sins is being proclaimed to you.(AM) 39 Everyone who believes is justified[j] through him from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.(AN) 40 So beware that what is said in the prophets does not happen to you:
41 Look, you scoffers,
marvel and vanish away,
because I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will never believe,
even if someone were to explain it to you.”[k](AO)
Paul and Barnabas in Antioch
42 As they were leaving, the people[l] urged them to speak about these matters the following Sabbath. 43 After the synagogue had been dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and urging them to continue in the grace of God.(AP)
44 The following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.[m] 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what Paul was saying, insulting him.(AQ)
46 Paul and Barnabas boldly replied, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. Since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.(AR) 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the prominent God-fearing women and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their district.(AT) 51 But Paul and Barnabas shook the dust off their feet(AU) against them(AV) and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.(AW)
Growth and Persecution in Iconium
14 In Iconium they entered the Jewish synagogue, as usual, and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.(AX) 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.(AY) 3 So they stayed there a long time and spoke boldly for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace by enabling them to do signs and wonders.(AZ) 4 But the people of the city were divided, some siding with the Jews and others with the apostles.(BA) 5 When an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat and stone them, 6 they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside.(BB) 7 There they continued preaching the gospel.(BC)
Mistaken for Gods in Lystra
8 In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. 9 He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.(BD)
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” (BE) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.
14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting,(BF) 15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things(BG) to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.[o](BH) 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations(BI) to go their own way, 17 although he did not leave himself without a witness,(BJ) since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons(BK) and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.
19 Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.(BL) 20 After the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.(BM)
Church Planting
21 After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch,(BN) 22 strengthening the[p] disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith(BO) and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships(BP) to enter the kingdom of God.” 23 When they had appointed elders(BQ) for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
24 They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.(BR) 27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them(BS) and that he had opened the door(BT) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.
Dispute in Antioch
15 Some men(BU) came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised(BV) according to the custom prescribed by Moses,(BW) you cannot be saved.” 2 After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.(BX) 3 When they had been sent on their way by the church,(BY) they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
4 When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.(BZ) 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
The Jerusalem Council
6 The apostles and the elders gathered 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,[q] that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us.(CA) 9 He made no distinction between us and them,(CB) cleansing their hearts by faith.(CC) 10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks(CD) that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace(CE) of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 The whole assembly became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.(CF) 13 After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon[r] has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.(CG) 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 that the rest of humanity
may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles
who are called by my name—
declares the Lord
who makes these things 18 known from long ago.[s][t](CH)
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,(CI) 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.”(CJ)
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,(CK) both leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote:
“From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:(CL)
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us(CM) and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,[u](CN) 25 we have unanimously(CO) decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives(CP) 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. 28 For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:(CQ) 29 that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.(CR) You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.
Farewell.”
The Outcome of the Jerusalem Letter
30 So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. 31 When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message.(CS) 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace(CT) by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.[v][w] 35 But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.(CU)
Paul and Barnabas Part Company
36 After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town(CV) where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark(CW) with him and sailed off to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.(CX) 41 He traveled through Syria(CY) and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Footnotes
- 13:2 Or were ministering to
- 13:17 Lit with an uplifted
- 13:18 Other mss read he cared for them
- 13:22 1Sm 13:14; Ps 89:20
- 13:23 Other mss read brought salvation
- 13:33 Or I have begotten you
- 13:33 Ps 2:7
- 13:34 Is 55:3
- 13:35 Ps 16:10
- 13:39 Or freed, also later in this verse
- 13:41 Hab 1:5
- 13:42 Other mss read they were leaving the synagogue of the Jews, the Gentiles
- 13:44 Other mss read of God
- 13:47 Is 49:6
- 14:15 Ex 20:11; Ps 146:6
- 14:22 Lit the souls of the
- 15:7 Other mss read us
- 15:14 Simon (Peter)
- 15:17–18 Other mss read says the Lord who does all these things. Known to God from long ago are all his works.
- 15:16–18 Am 9:11–12; Is 45:21
- 15:24 Other mss add by saying, ‘Be circumcised and keep the law,’
- 15:33 Other mss read the brothers to the apostles
- 15:33 Other mss add v. 34: But Silas decided to stay there.
Acts 13-15
New International Version
Acts 13-15
New International Version
13 1 Now in the church at Antioch(A) there were prophets(B) and teachers:(C) Barnabas,(D) Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,(E) Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod(F) the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,(G) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work(H) to which I have called them.”(I) 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them(J) and sent them off.(K)
On Cyprus
4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,(L) went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.(M) 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God(N) in the Jewish synagogues.(O) John(P) was with them as their helper.
6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer(Q) and false prophet(R) named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul,(S) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer(T) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul(U) from the faith.(V) 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,(W) looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil(X) and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?(Y) 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you.(Z) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”(AA)
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul(AB) saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
In Pisidian Antioch
13 From Paphos,(AC) Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia,(AD) where John(AE) left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch.(AF) On the Sabbath(AG) they entered the synagogue(AH) and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law(AI) and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand(AJ) and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty power he led them out of that country;(AK) 18 for about forty years he endured their conduct[a](AL) in the wilderness;(AM) 19 and he overthrew seven nations in Canaan,(AN) giving their land to his people(AO) as their inheritance.(AP) 20 All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave them judges(AQ) until the time of Samuel the prophet.(AR) 21 Then the people asked for a king,(AS) and he gave them Saul(AT) son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin,(AU) who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul,(AV) he made David their king.(AW) God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;(AX) he will do everything I want him to do.’(AY)
23 “From this man’s descendants(AZ) God has brought to Israel the Savior(BA) Jesus,(BB) as he promised.(BC) 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.(BD) 25 As John was completing his work,(BE) he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for.(BF) But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’(BG)
26 “Fellow children of Abraham(BH) and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation(BI) has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus,(BJ) yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets(BK) that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.(BL) 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him,(BM) they took him down from the cross(BN) and laid him in a tomb.(BO) 30 But God raised him from the dead,(BP) 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem.(BQ) They are now his witnesses(BR) to our people.
32 “We tell you the good news:(BS) What God promised our ancestors(BT) 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus.(BU) As it is written in the second Psalm:
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,
35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep;(BY) he was buried with his ancestors(BZ) and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead(CA) did not see decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.(CB) 39 Through him everyone who believes(CC) is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.(CD) 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’[e]”(CE)
42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue,(CF) the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.(CG)
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying(CH) and heaped abuse(CI) on him.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.(CJ) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.(CK) 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“‘I have made you[f] a light for the Gentiles,(CL)
that you[g] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[h]”(CM)
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;(CN) and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
49 The word of the Lord(CO) spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.(CP) 51 So they shook the dust off their feet(CQ) as a warning to them and went to Iconium.(CR) 52 And the disciples(CS) were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.(CT)
In Iconium
14 At Iconium(CU) Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.(CV) There they spoke so effectively that a great number(CW) of Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.(CX) 3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly(CY) for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.(CZ) 4 The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.(DA) 5 There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews,(DB) together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them.(DC) 6 But they found out about it and fled(DD) to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, 7 where they continued to preach(DE) the gospel.(DF)
In Lystra and Derbe
8 In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth(DG) and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed(DH) 10 and called out, “Stand up on your feet!”(DI) At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.(DJ)
11 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”(DK) 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.(DL) 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes(DM) and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human,(DN) like you. We are bringing you good news,(DO) telling you to turn from these worthless things(DP) to the living God,(DQ) who made the heavens and the earth(DR) and the sea and everything in them.(DS) 16 In the past, he let(DT) all nations go their own way.(DU) 17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony:(DV) He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;(DW) he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”(DX) 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.
19 Then some Jews(DY) came from Antioch and Iconium(DZ) and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul(EA) and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples(EB) had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
The Return to Antioch in Syria
21 They preached the gospel(EC) in that city and won a large number(ED) of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium(EE) and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.(EF) “We must go through many hardships(EG) to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[i](EH) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,(EI) committed them to the Lord,(EJ) in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,(EK) 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch,(EL) where they had been committed to the grace of God(EM) for the work they had now completed.(EN) 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them(EO) and how he had opened a door(EP) of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.(EQ)
The Council at Jerusalem
15 Certain people(ER) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:(ES) “Unless you are circumcised,(ET) according to the custom taught by Moses,(EU) 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(EV) to see the apostles and elders(EW) about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia(EX) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.(EY) 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.(EZ)
5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party(FA) of the Pharisees(FB) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”(FC)
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.(FD) 8 God, who knows the heart,(FE) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,(FF) just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them,(FG) for he purified their hearts by faith.(FH) 10 Now then, why do you try to test God(FI) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke(FJ) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace(FK) 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(FL) God had done among the Gentiles through them.(FM) 13 When they finished, James(FN) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[j] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.(FO) 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’[k](FP)—
18 things known from long ago.[l](FQ)
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,(FR) from sexual immorality,(FS) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(FT) 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.”(FU)
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders,(FV) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(FW) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(FX) 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,(FY) Syria(FZ) and Cilicia:(GA)
Greetings.(GB)
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(GC) 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(GD) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(GE) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(GF) 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.(GG) 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,(GH) who themselves were prophets,(GI) 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(GJ) to return to those who had sent them. [34] [m] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached(GK) the word of the Lord.(GL)
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(GM) where we preached the word of the Lord(GN) and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,(GO) with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them(GP) 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(GQ) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.(GR) 41 He went through Syria(GS) and Cilicia,(GT) strengthening the churches.(GU)
Footnotes
- Acts 13:18 Some manuscripts he cared for them
- Acts 13:33 Psalm 2:7
- Acts 13:34 Isaiah 55:3
- Acts 13:35 Psalm 16:10 (see Septuagint)
- Acts 13:41 Hab. 1:5
- Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
- Acts 13:47 The Greek is singular.
- Acts 13:47 Isaiah 49:6
- Acts 14:23 Or Barnabas ordained elders; or Barnabas had elders elected
- 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
- Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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