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Acts 15:12-41
New King James Version
Acts 15:12-41
New King James Version
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had (A)worked through them among the Gentiles. 13 And after they had [a]become silent, (B)James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 (C)Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After(D) this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the [b]Lord who does all these things.’
18 [c]“Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore (E)I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who (F)are turning to God, 20 but that we (G)write to them to abstain (H)from things polluted by idols, (I)from [d]sexual immorality, (J)from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, (K)being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named (L)Barsabas,[e] and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that (M)some who went out from us have troubled you with words, (N)unsettling your souls, [f]saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one [g]accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 (O)men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 (P)that you abstain from things offered to idols, (Q)from blood, from things strangled, and from (R)sexual[h] immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.
Continuing Ministry in Syria
30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being (S)prophets also, (T)exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were (U)sent back with greetings from the brethren to [i]the apostles.
34 [j]However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35 (V)Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Division over John Mark
36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas [k]was determined to take with them (W)John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them (X)the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to (Y)Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, (Z)being [l]commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, (AA)strengthening the churches.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 15:13 stopped speaking
- Acts 15:17 NU Lord, who makes these things
- Acts 15:18 NU (continuing v. 17) known from eternity (of old).’
- Acts 15:20 Or fornication
- Acts 15:22 NU, M Barsabbas
- Acts 15:24 NU omits saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”
- Acts 15:25 purpose or mind
- Acts 15:29 Or fornication
- Acts 15:33 NU those who had sent them
- Acts 15:34 NU, M omit v. 34.
- Acts 15:37 resolved
- Acts 15:40 committed
Acts 15:12-41
New International Version
Acts 15:12-41
New International Version
12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders(A) God had done among the Gentiles through them.(B) 13 When they finished, James(C) 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.(D) 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](E)—
18 things known from long ago.[c](F)
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,(G) from sexual immorality,(H) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(I) 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.”(J)
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders,(K) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(L) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(M) 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,(N) Syria(O) and Cilicia:(P)
Greetings.(Q)
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(R) 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(S) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(T) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(U) 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.(V) 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,(W) who themselves were prophets,(X) 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(Y) 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(Z) the word of the Lord.(AA)
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(AB) where we preached the word of the Lord(AC) and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,(AD) with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them(AE) 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(AF) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.(AG) 41 He went through Syria(AH) and Cilicia,(AI) strengthening the churches.(AJ)
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
- Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.