Acts 15
Christian Standard Bible
Dispute in Antioch
15 Some men(A) came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised(B) according to the custom prescribed by Moses,(C) 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.(D) 3 When they had been sent on their way by the church,(E) 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.(F) 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,[a] 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.(G) 9 He made no distinction between us and them,(H) cleansing their hearts by faith.(I) 10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks(J) that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace(K) 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.(L) 13 After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon[b] has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.(M) 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.[c][d](N)
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,(O) 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.”(P)
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,(Q) 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:(R)
Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us(S) and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,[e](T) 25 we have unanimously(U) decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives(V) 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:(W) 29 that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.(X) 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.(Y) 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace(Z) by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.[f][g] 35 But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.(AA)
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(AB) 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(AC) 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.(AD) 41 He traveled through Syria(AE) and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Footnotes
- 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 15
Lexham English Bible
The Jerusalem Council
15 And some men came down from Judea and[a] began teaching[b] the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after[c] there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue. 3 So they were sent on their way by the church, and[d] passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. 4 And when they[e] arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them[f] to observe the law of Moses!”
6 Both the apostles and the elders assembled to deliberate concerning this matter. 7 And after[g] there was much debate, Peter stood up and[h] said to them, “Men and brothers, you know that in the early days[i] God chose among you through my mouth that the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by[j] giving them[k] the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. 9 And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 So now why are you putting God to the test by[l] placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same[m] way those also are.” 12 And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Men and brothers, listen to me! 14 Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After these things I will return
and build up again the tent of David that has fallen,
and the parts of it that had been torn down I will build up again
and will restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles[n] who are called by my name,[o]
says the Lord,[p] who makes these things 18 known from of old.’[q]
19 Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. 21 For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, because he[r] is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
The Letter from the Council
22 Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers— 23 writing this letter[s] to be delivered by them:[t]
The apostles and the elders, brothers.
To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.
Greetings!
24 Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us—to whom we gave no orders—and[u] have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your minds,[v] 25 it seemed best to us, having reached a unanimous decision,[w] and[x] having chosen men, to send them[y] to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you[z] keep yourselves from these things[aa] you will do well.
Farewell.
The Letter Is Delivered to Antioch
30 So when[ab] they were sent off, they came down to Antioch, and after[ac] calling together the community, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they[ad] read it[ae] aloud, they rejoiced at the encouragement. 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers by a long message. 33 And after[af] spending some time, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.[ag] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord with many others also.
Paul and Barnabas Disagree and Part Company
36 And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Come then,let us return and[ah] visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take John who was called Mark along also, 38 but Paul held the opinion they should not take this one along, who departed from them in Pamphylia and did not accompany them in the work. 39 And a sharp disagreement took place, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took along Mark and[ai] sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and[aj] departed, after[ak] being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers. 41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:1 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came down”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 15:1 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began teaching”)
- Acts 15:2 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- Acts 15:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“were sent on their way”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 15:4 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrived”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 15:5 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 15:7 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was”)
- Acts 15:7 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“stood up”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 15:7 Or “from ancient days”
- Acts 15:8 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“giving”) which is understood as means
- Acts 15:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 15:10 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the infinitive (“placing”) which is understood as means
- Acts 15:11 Literally “which”
- Acts 15:17 The same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context
- Acts 15:17 Literally “on whom my name has been called on them”
- Acts 15:17 A quotation from Amos 9:11–12
- Acts 15:18 The last phrase of v. 17 and all of v. 18 is an allusion to Isa 45:21
- Acts 15:21 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is read aloud”) which is understood as causal
- Acts 15:23 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 15:23 Literally “by their hand”
- Acts 15:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have gone out”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 15:24 Literally “souls”
- Acts 15:25 Literally “having become of one mind”
- Acts 15:25 Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style
- Acts 15:25 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 15:29 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“keep”) which is understood as conditional
- Acts 15:29 Literally “which things”
- Acts 15:30 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were sent off”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 15:30 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“calling together”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 15:31 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“read … aloud”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 15:31 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Acts 15:33 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spending”) which is understood as temporal
- Acts 15:33 A few later manuscripts add v. 34, “But Silas decided to stay there.”
- Acts 15:36 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“return”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 15:39 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took along”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 15:40 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“chose”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Acts 15:40 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being commended”) which is understood as temporal
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