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15 And some men came down from Judaea, and taught brethren, That but ye be circumcised after the law of Moses, ye be not able to be made safe [ye be not able to be saved].

Therefore when there was made not a little dissension to Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordained, that Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, should go up to the apostles and priests in Jerusalem, on this question.

And so they were led forth of the church, and passed by Phenice and Samaria; and they told the conversation of heathen men [Therefore they, led forth of the church, passed by Phenice and Samaria; telling the living of heathen men], and they made great joy to all the brethren.

And when they came to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and of the apostles, and of the elder men, and told, how great things God did with them. [Soothly when they came to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles, and elder men, and told how many things God did with them.]

But some of the heresy of the Pharisees, that believed, rose up, and said, [rised, saying], That it behooveth them to be circumcised, and to command to keep also the law of Moses.

And the apostles and elder men came together, to see of this word.

And when there was made a great seeking thereof, Peter rose, and said to them, Brethren, ye know [Men brethren, ye know], that of old days in you God chose by my mouth heathen men, to hear the word of the gospel, and to believe;

and God, that knew the hearts, bare witnessing, and gave to them the Holy Ghost [giving to them the Holy Ghost], as also to us;

and nothing diversed betwixt [between] us and them, cleansing the hearts of them by faith.

10 Now then what tempt ye God [Now therefore what tempt ye God], to put a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither we, neither our fathers might bear?

11 But by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we believe to be saved, as also they.

12 And all the multitude held peace, and heard Barnabas and Paul, telling how great signs and wonders [how many signs and wonders] God did by them in heathen men.

13 And after that they held peace, James answered, and said, Brethren, hear ye me [James answered, saying, Men brethren, hear me].

14 Simon told, how God visited, first to take of heathen men a people to his name. [Simon told, how first God visited, to take of heathen men a people to his name.]

15 And the words of prophets accord to him [And to him the words of prophets accord], as it is written,

16 After this I shall turn again, and build the tabernacle of David, that fell down; and I shall build again the cast down things of it, and I shall raise it;

17 that other men seek the Lord [that others of men seek the Lord], and all folks on whom my name is called to help; the Lord doing this thing, saith.

18 From the world, the work of the Lord is known to the Lord. [From the world, to the Lord his work is known.]

19 For which thing I deem them that of heathen men be converted to God, to be not dis-eased [to be not unquieted, or dis-eased],

20 but to write to them, that they abstain them from defoulings of maumets [that they abstain them from defoulings of simulacra], and from fornication, and strangled things, and blood.

21 For Moses of old times hath in all cities them that preach him in synagogues, whereby each sabbath he is read.

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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.” 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. 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. 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)

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)

The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 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) 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. 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)

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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