Acts 15
New Living Translation
The Council at Jerusalem
15 While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers[a]: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. 5 But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”
6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers[b] with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”
12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13 When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter[c] has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
16 ‘Afterward I will return
and restore the fallen house[d] of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord,
including the Gentiles—
all those I have called to be mine.
The Lord has spoken—
18 he who made these things known so long ago.’[e]
19 “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
The Letter for Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders[f]—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. 23 This is the letter they took with them:
“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
24 “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! 25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.
28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.
32 Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith. 33 They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.[g] 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.
Footnotes
Acts 15
International Standard Version
Controversy about the Law
15 Then some men came down from Judea and started to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you can’t be saved.” 2 Paul and Barnabas had quite a dispute and argument with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question. 3 They were sent on their way by the church, and as they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria they told of the conversion of the gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done through them. 5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The gentiles[a] must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law of Moses.”
6 So the apostles and the elders met to look into this claim. 7 After a lengthy debate, Peter stood up and told them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days, God chose me to be the one among you through whom the gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows everyone’s heart, showed them he approved by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between them and us, because of their faith-cleansed hearts. 10 So why do you test God by putting on the disciples’ neck a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we could carry? 11 We certainly believe that it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah,[b] that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 The whole crowd was silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles. 13 After Paul and Barnabas[c] had finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me: 14 Simeon[d] has explained how God first showed his concern for the gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
16 ‘“After this, I will come back
and set up David’s fallen tent again.
I will restore its ruined places
and set it up again
17 so that the rest of the people may search for the Lord,
including all the gentiles who are called by my name,’
declares the Lord.[e]
‘He is the one who has been doing these things
18 that have been known from long ago.’[f]
19 “Therefore, I have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write to them to keep away from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled,[g] and from blood.[h] 21 After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath his books are[i] read aloud in the synagogues.”
The Reply of the Church
22 Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers. 23 They wrote this letter for them to deliver:[j]
“From:[k] The apostles and the elders, your brothers
To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
Greetings. 24 We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled you.[l] 25 So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[m] 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements: 29 to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood,[n] from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye.”
30 So the men were sent on their way and arrived in Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 31 When the people[o] read it, they were pleased with how the letter encouraged them. 32 Then Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said a lot to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33 After staying there for some time, they were sent back with a greeting[p] from the brothers to those who had sent them.[q] 35 Both Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch to teach and proclaim the word of the Lord, as did many others.
Paul and Barnabas Disagree
36 A few days later, Paul told Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed 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 did not think it was right to take along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and who had not gone with them into the work. 39 The disagreement was so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40 while Paul chose Silas and left after the brothers had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord.[r] 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:5 Lit. They
- Acts 15:11 Or Christ
- Acts 15:13 Lit. After they
- Acts 15:14 I.e. Simon Peter
- Acts 15:17 MT citation source reads Lord
- Acts 15:18 Cf. Amos 9:11-12; Isa 45:21
- Acts 15:20 Other mss. lack from anything strangled
- Acts 15:20 I.e. uncooked meat
- Acts 15:21 Lit. Sabbath he is
- Acts 15:23 Lit. They wrote through their hand
- Acts 15:23 The Gk. lacks From
- Acts 15:24 Other mss. read you by saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law.’
- Acts 15:26 Or Christ
- Acts 15:29 I.e. uncooked meat
- Acts 15:31 Lit. they
- Acts 15:33 Lit. sent back with peace
- Acts 15:33 Other mss. read sent them. 34 But it seemed good to Silas to remain there, and Judas went back alone.
- Acts 15:40 Other mss. read of God
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