Acts 15:6–41

⁶Both the apostles and the elders assembled to deliberate concerning this matter. ⁷And after^* there was much debate, Peter stood up and^* said to them, “Men and brothers, you know that in the early days^a God chose among you through my mouth that the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by^* giving them^* the Holy Spirit, just as he also did to us. ⁹And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ¹⁰So now why are you putting God to the test by^* placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same^b way those also are.” ¹²And 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. ¹³And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Men and brothers, listen to me! ¹⁴Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name. ¹⁵And 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,

¹⁷so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord,

even all the Gentiles^c who are called by my name,^d

says the Lord,^e who makes these things ¹⁸known from of old.’^f

¹⁹Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰but 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. ²¹For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, because he^* is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

The Letter from the Council

²²Then 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—²³writing this letter^* to be delivered by them:^g

The apostles and the elders, brothers.

To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Greetings!

²⁴Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us—to whom we gave no orders—and^* have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your minds,^{h 25}it seemed best to us, having reached a unanimous decision,ⁱ and^* having chosen men, to send them^* to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things: ²⁹that you abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you^* keep yourselves from these things^j you will do well.

Farewell.

The Letter Is Delivered to Antioch

³⁰So when^* they were sent off, they came down to Antioch, and after^* calling together the community, they delivered the letter. ³¹And when they^* read it^* aloud, they rejoiced at the encouragement. ³²Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers by a long message. ³³And after^* spending some time, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.^{k 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

³⁶And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Come then, let us return and^* visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” ³⁷Now Barnabas wanted to take John who was called Mark along also, ³⁸but 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. ³⁹And a sharp disagreement took place, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took along Mark and^* sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas and^* departed, after^* being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers. ⁴¹And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.