Acts 15

15 ¹Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised by Moses' custom, you cannot be saved." ²When Paul and Barnabas had fierce dispute and debate with them, the brothers appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question. ³Sent on by the church, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the Gentiles' conversion, bringing great joy to all the brothers. ⁴Arriving in Jerusalem, the church, apostles, and elders welcomed them, and they reported all our Father had done with them.

⁵But some believers from the Pharisee party stood up and said, "They must be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses. ⁶Then the apostles and the elders gathered together to look into this matter. ⁷After much debate, Peter stood and said, "Brothers, you know that in the early days our Father chose among you that the Gentiles would hear the gospel message through me and believe. ⁸And our Father, who knows the heart, testified by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. ⁹He drew no line between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ¹⁰So why test our Father by putting a yoke on the disciples' neck that neither our ancestors nor we could bear? ¹¹But we believe we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."

¹²The whole crowd fell silent, listening to Barnabas and Paul describe the signs and wonders our Father did among the Gentiles through them. ¹³After they finished speaking, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Simeon told how our Father first visited the nations, taking from them a people for his name. ^a a v14 Simeon is Peter's Hebrew name — the same apostle who spoke in verse 7. ¹⁵And the words of the prophets agree with this, just as it is written: ¹⁶"'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, ^b b v16 When James says our Father will rebuild "the tent of David that has fallen," he points to the restoration accomplished in Jesus, the promised son of David, who opens the family to people from every nation.

¹⁷that the rest of mankind may seek our Father, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says our Father, who makes these things, ¹⁸known from long ago.'

¹⁹So I judge we shouldn't trouble the Gentiles turning to our Father, ²⁰but write telling them to avoid things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood. ²¹For Moses has been proclaimed in every city for generations, read aloud in synagogues every Sabbath."

A Letter to Our Gentile Brothers

²²The apostles, elders, and whole church decided to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. ²³They sent this letter with them: "The apostles and elders, brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

²⁴Since we have heard that some who went out from us troubled you with words, unsettling your hearts, though we gave them no such instructions, ²⁵we unanimously agreed to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. ²⁶Men who have devoted their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷So we sent Judas and Silas, who will themselves tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸The Holy Spirit and we agreed to place no greater burden on you than these necessities: ²⁹Avoid food offered to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. Keep yourselves from these and you will do well. Farewell."

³⁰So, sent off, they went down to Antioch, gathered the congregation, and delivered the letter. ³¹And when they read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement. ³²And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. ³³After spending time there, the brothers sent them off in peace to those who sent them. ^c c v33 The earliest manuscripts do not have a verse 34 here; later copies add: “But Silas decided to remain there.” ³⁵But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching our Lord's word, with many others too.

Paul and Barnabas Part Ways

³⁶After some days, Paul told Barnabas, "Let's return and visit the brothers in every city where we announced our Lord's message, and see how they're doing." ³⁷Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John who was called Mark. ³⁸But Paul thought it best not to bring the one who deserted them in Pamphylia and didn't join them for the work. ³⁹Their clash grew so sharp they separated from each other; Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, ⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas and set out, entrusted by the brothers to the grace of our Lord. ⁴¹And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.