Acts 15:1-21
Expanded Bible
The Meeting in Jerusalem
15 Then some people came to Antioch from Judea and began teaching the Gentile believers [L brothers (and sisters)]: “You cannot be saved if you are not circumcised ·as Moses taught us [L according to the custom of Moses; compare Gen. 17:9–14].” 2 Paul and Barnabas ·were against this teaching and argued [L had no small argument and debate] with them about it. So the church ·decided to send [commissioned; appointed] Paul, Barnabas, and some others to Jerusalem where they could talk more about this disagreement with the apostles and elders.
3 The church ·helped them leave [sent them] on the trip, and they went through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria, telling all about ·how the other nations had turned to God [L the conversion of the Gentiles]. This made all the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] very ·happy [joyful]. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the apostles, the elders, and the church. They told about everything God had done with them. 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee ·group [sect; party; faction] ·came forward [L stood up] and said, “·The Gentile believers [L They] must be circumcised. They must be ·told to obey [ordered to keep] the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this ·problem [matter]. 7 After a long debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “[L Men,] Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose me from among you to preach the ·Good News [Gospel] to the ·nations [Gentiles]. They heard the ·Good News [Gospel] from ·me [L my mouth], and they believed. 8 God, who knows the ·thoughts of everyone [L heart], ·accepted [showed his approval of; L testified for] them. He showed this to us by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 To God, those people are not different from us. When they believed, he made their hearts ·pure [clean]. 10 So now why are you testing God by putting a ·heavy load around [L yoke on] the necks of the ·Gentile believers [L disciples]? It is a ·load [yoke] that neither we nor our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers] were ·able [strong enough] to ·carry [bear]. 11 But we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
12 Then the whole ·group [assembly] became quiet. They listened to Paul and Barnabas tell about all the [miraculous] signs and ·miracles [wonders] that God did through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James said, “[L Men,] Brothers, listen to me. 14 ·Simon [C Peter; v. 7] has told us how God ·showed his love for [cared for; intervened with; visited] the Gentiles [Acts 10—11]. For the first time he is ·accepting [taking; selecting] from among them a people ·to be his own [L for his name]. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this too [L as it is written]:
16 ‘After these things I will return.
And I will rebuild the tent of David, which has fallen [C either the Davidic dynasty of kings (the “house of David”), or the nation Israel generally].
But I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will ·set it up [restore it].
17 Then ·those people who are left alive [the remnant; L the rest of the people] may ·ask the Lord for help [L seek the Lord],
and the ·other nations [Gentiles] ·that belong to me [L who are called by my name],
says the Lord,
who will make it happen.
18 And these things have been known ·for a long time [from long ago; Amos 9:11–12; C a reference to God’s promise that he would restore the “remnant” of Israel and save the Gentiles].’
19 “So I ·think [conclude; judge] we should not ·bother [trouble; cause trouble for] the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter to them telling them these things: Stay away from food ·that has been offered to idols (which makes it unclean) [L polluted by idols], ·any kind of sexual sin [or prohibited marriages; C the Greek word could mean any sexual sin, or marriages viewed as incestuous by OT law], eating animals that have been strangled [C leaving the blood inside, which the OT law prohibited; Gen. 9:4], and blood [C consuming blood was forbidden in the OT law; Lev. 17:10–12]. 21 They should do these things, because for a long time in every city ·the law of Moses has been taught [L Moses has been preached/proclaimed; C referring to the Torah (the Law)]. And it is still read in the synagogue every Sabbath day.” [C These guidelines were to keep from offending pious Jews in the community and so promote unity in the Church.]
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Acts 15:1-21
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
15 Now kai some tis men came katerchomai down from apo · ho Judea Ioudaia and began to teach didaskō the ho brothers adelphos, “ Unless ean mē you are circumcised peritemnō according to the ho custom ethos of ho Moses Mōysēs, you cannot ou be saved sōzō.” 2 And de when Paul Paulos and kai Barnabas Barnabas had ginomai no ou small oligos argument stasis and kai debate zētēsis · ho · ho with pros them autos, the brethren appointed tassō Paul Paulos and kai Barnabas Barnabas and kai some tis others allos among ek them autos to go up anabainō to eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm to pros the ho apostles apostolos and kai elders presbyteros regarding peri · ho this houtos issue zētēma. 3 So oun being sent propempō on their way by hypo the ho church ekklēsia, they ho went dierchomai through · ho both te Phoenicia Phoinikē and kai Samaria Samareia, narrating ekdiēgeomai in detail the ho conversion epistrophē of the ho Gentiles ethnos, and kai brought poieō great megas joy chara to all pas the ho brothers adelphos. 4 And de when they arrived paraginomai in eis Jerusalem Ierousalēm, they were welcomed paradechomai by apo the ho church ekklēsia and kai the ho apostles apostolos and kai the ho elders presbyteros, and te they reported anangellō all hosos that · ho God theos had done poieō with meta them autos. 5 But de some tis arose exanistēmi · ho from apo the ho party hairesis of the ho Pharisees Pharisaios, believers pisteuō, and said legō, “ It is necessary dei to circumcise peritemnō them autos and te order parangellō them to keep tēreō the ho law nomos of Moses Mōysēs.”
6 The ho apostles apostolos and kai the ho elders presbyteros were gathered synagō to see about peri · ho this houtos matter logos. 7 After there had been ginomai much polys · de debate zētēsis, Peter Petros stood anistēmi up and said legō to pros them autos, “ My brothers anēr, you hymeis know epistamai that hoti in apo days hēmera of old archaios God theos made a choice eklegomai among en you hymeis, · ho that through dia · ho my egō mouth stoma the ho Gentiles ethnos should hear akouō the ho message logos of the ho gospel euangelion and kai believe pisteuō. 8 And kai · ho God theos, who knows kardiognōstēs the heart , confirmed martyreō this, by giving didōmi the ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma · ho to them autos just kathōs as · kai he did to us hēmeis, 9 and kai he made no outheis distinction diakrinō between metaxy us hēmeis and kai them autos, cleansing katharizō their autos hearts kardia by ho faith pistis. · ho 10 So oun now nyn why tis are you testing peirazō · ho God theos by putting epitithēmi a yoke zygos on epi the ho neck trachēlos of the ho disciples mathētēs, which hos neither oute · ho our hēmeis ancestors patēr nor oute we hēmeis have been able ischuō to bear bastazō? 11 But alla through dia the ho grace charis of the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous we believe pisteuō that we will be saved sōzō, in kata the same hos way tropos as those kakeinos also .”
12 And de the ho entire pas assembly plēthos fell silent sigaō, and kai listened akouō to Barnabas Barnabas and kai Paul Paulos recounting exēgeomai all hosos the signs sēmeion and kai wonders teras that God theos had done poieō · ho through dia them autos among en the ho Gentiles ethnos. 13 When meta · de they autos finished speaking sigaō, James Iakōbos replied apokrinomai, saying legō, “ My brothers anēr, listen akouō to me egō. 14 Simeon Symeōn has recounted exēgeomai how kathōs God theos first prōton · ho concerned episkeptomai himself about taking lambanō from ek among the Gentiles ethnos a people laos for ho his autos name onoma. 15 And kai with this houtos agree symphōneō the ho words logos of the ho prophets prophētēs, as kathōs it is written graphō, 16 ‘ After meta this houtos I will return anastrephō, and kai I will rebuild anoikodomeō the ho tent skēnē of David Dauid, which ho has fallen piptō, and kai I will rebuild anoikodomeō the ho ruins kataskaptō of it autos, and kai I will restore anorthoō it autos, 17 so hopōs that the ho rest kataloipos of ho men anthrōpos may an seek ekzēteō the ho Lord kyrios, namely kai, all pas the ho Gentiles ethnos on epi whom hos my egō name onoma has been called epikaleō, · ho says legō the Lord kyrios, who makes poieō these houtos things 18 known gnōstos from apo long aiōn ago .’ 19 Therefore dio I egō conclude krinō that we should not mē trouble parenochleō those ho from apo the ho Gentiles ethnos who are turning epistrephō to epi · ho God theos, 20 but alla should write epistellō to them autos to abstain apechō from the ho pollutions alisgēma of ho idols eidōlon, and kai from ho sexual porneia immorality , and kai from ho what has been strangled pniktos, and kai from ho blood haima. 21 For gar from ek ancient archaios generations genea Moses Mōysēs has had echō in kata every city polis those ho who proclaim kēryssō him autos, because he is read aloud anaginōskō in en the ho synagogues synagōgē every kata pas Sabbath sabbaton.”
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