Acts 15

Dispute in Antioch

15Some men ^ucame down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised ^vaccording to the custom prescribed by Moses, ^wyou cannot be saved!” ²But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy. ^x3When they had been sent on their way by the church, ^ythey passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers.

⁴When 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. ^z5But some of the believers from 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

⁶Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter. ⁷After 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, ^athat by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. ⁸And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving ^bthe Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us. ^c9He made no distinction between us and them, ^dcleansing their hearts by faith. ^e10Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples’ necks ^fthat neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace ^gof the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”

¹²Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. ^h13After they stopped speaking, James responded: “Brothers, listen to me! ¹⁴Simeon ⁱhas reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name. ^j15And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

¹⁶After these things I will return

and rebuild David’s fallen tent.

I will rebuild its ruins

and set it up again,

¹⁷so the rest of humanity

may seek the Lord—

even all the Gentiles

who are called by My name,

declares the Lord who does these things,

¹⁸known from long ago. ^klm

¹⁹Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, ⁿfrom eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. ²¹For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.” ^o

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

²²Then 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, ^pboth leading men among the brothers. ²³They wrote this letter to be delivered by them: ^q

From the apostles and the elders, your brothers,

To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: ^r

Greetings.

²⁴Because we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us ^sand troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, ^tu25we have unanimously ^vdecided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶who have risked their lives ^wfor the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. ^x28For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things: ^y29that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. ^zYou will do well if you keep yourselves from these things.

Farewell.

The Outcome of the Jerusalem Letter

³⁰Then, being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. ³¹When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. ³²Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message. ^a33After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace ^bby the brothers to those who had sent them. ^cd35But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord. ^e

Paul and Barnabas Part Company

³⁶After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers in every town ^fwhere we have preached the message of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” ³⁷Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. ^g38But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. ³⁹There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark ^hwith him and sailed off to Cyprus. ⁴⁰Then Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers. ⁱ⁴¹He traveled through Syria ^jand Cilicia, strengthening the churches.