Act 15 | NASB2020 | STEP | Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers , “ Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses , you cannot be saved .”

‏ Acts 15

The Council in Jerusalem

1 ^aSome men came down from Judea and began teaching ^bthe brothers, “Unless you are ^ccircumcised according to ^dthe custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had ^{▼▼Lit no little}a heated argument and ^fdebate with them, ^gthe brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the ^hapostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, after being ⁱsent on their way by the church, they were passing through both ^jPhoenicia and Samaria, ^kdescribing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all ^lthe brothers and sisters. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, ^mthe apostles, and the elders, and they ⁿreported all that God had done with them. 5 But some of ^othe sect of the ^pPharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to ^qcircumcise ^{▼▼I.e., Gentile believers}them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”

6 ^sThe apostles and the elders came together to ^{▼▼Lit see about}look into this ^{▼▼Lit word}matter. 7 After there had been much ^vdebate, Peter stood up and said to them, “ ^{▼▼Lit Men, brothers}Brothers, you know that ^{▼▼Lit from days of old}in the early days ^yGod made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of ^zthe gospel and believe. 8 And God, ^aawho knows the heart, testified to them ^abgiving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and ^acHe made no distinction between us and them, ^adcleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Since this is the case, why are you ^aeputting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which ^afneither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through ^agthe grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12 All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were ^ahrelating all the ^aisigns and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

James’ Judgment

13 After they stopped speaking, ^{▼▼Or Jacob} ^akJames responded, saying, “ ^{▼▼Lit Men, brothers}Brothers, listen to me. 14 ^amSimeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15 The words of ^anthe Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:
16 ‘ ^aoAfter these things ^apI will return,
And I will rebuild the fallen ^{▼▼Or tent}tabernacle of David,
And I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will restore it,
17 ^arSo that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
And all the Gentiles ^{▼▼Lit upon whom My name is called} ^atwho are called by My name,’
18 ^auSays the Lord, who ^{▼▼Or does these things which were known} ^awmakes these things known from long ago.

19 Therefore, it is ^axmy judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from ^{▼▼Lit the pollutions of} ^azthings contaminated by idols, from ^baacts of sexual immorality, from ^bbwhat has been ^{▼▼I.e., to retain the blood}strangled, and from blood. 21 For ^bdfrom ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since ^{▼▼I.e., the books of Moses, Gen through Deut}he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22 Then it seemed good to ^bfthe apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to ^bgAntioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and ^bhSilas, leading men among ^bithe brothers, 23 and they ^{▼▼Lit wrote by their hand}sent this letter with them:
“ ^bkThe apostles and the brothers who are elders, to ^blthe brothers and sisters in ^bmAntioch, ^bnSyria, and ^boCilicia who are from the Gentiles: ^bpGreetings. 24 Since we have heard that ^bqsome ^{▼▼Lit from us}of our number to whom we gave no instruction have ^bsconfused you by their ^{▼▼Lit words}teaching, upsetting your souls, 25 ^buit seemed good to us, having ^{▼▼Or met together}become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have ^{▼▼Lit given over} ^bxrisked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore, we have sent ^byJudas and ^bzSilas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For ^cait seemed good to ^cbthe Holy Spirit and to ^ccus to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from ^cdthings sacrificed to idols, from ^ceblood, from ^cfthings strangled, and from ^cgacts of sexual immorality; ^{▼▼Lit from which keeping yourselves free}if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent away, ^cithey went down to Antioch; and after gathering the ^{▼▼Or multitude}congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its ^{▼▼Or exhortation}encouragement. 32 ^clJudas and ^cmSilas, also being ^cnprophets themselves, ^{▼▼Or exhorted}encouraged and strengthened ^cpthe brothers and sisters with a lengthy message. 33 After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters ^cqin peace to those who had ^crsent them out. ^{▼▼Late mss add as v 34: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.} 34 – 35 But ^ctPaul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and ^cupreaching ^cvthe word of the Lord, with many others also.

Second Missionary Journey

36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in ^cwevery city in which we proclaimed ^cxthe word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take ^cyJohn, called Mark, along with them also. 38 But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had ^czdeserted them ^{▼▼Lit from}in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took ^dbMark with him and sailed away to ^dcCyprus. 40 But Paul chose ^ddSilas, and left after being ^deentrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he was traveling through ^dfSyria and ^dgCilicia, strengthening the churches.