Acts 15

The Council in Jerusalem

11Some men came down from Judea and began teaching 2the brothers, “Unless you are 3circumcised according to 4the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2And after Paul and Barnabas had 5a heated argument and 6debate with them, 7the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the 8apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3Therefore, after being 9sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both 10Phoenicia and Samaria, 11describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all 12the brothers and sisters. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, 13the apostles, and the elders, and they 14reported all that God had done with them. 5But some of 15the sect of the 16Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to 17circumcise 18them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”

619The apostles and the elders came together to 20look into this 21matter. 7After there had been much 22debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “23Brothers, you know that 24in the early days 25God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 26the gospel and believe. 8And God, 27who knows the heart, testified to them 28giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and 29He made no distinction between us and them, 30cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Since this is the case, why are you 31putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which 32neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we are saved through 33the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were 34relating all the 35signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

James’ Judgment

13After they stopped speaking, 3637James responded, saying, “38Brothers, listen to me. 1439Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15The words of 40the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:16‘41After these things 42I will return, And I will rebuild the fallen 43tabernacle of David, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,1744So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles 4546who are called by My name,’1847Says the Lord, who 4849makes these things known from long ago. 19Therefore, it is 50my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from 5152things contaminated by idols, from 53acts of sexual immorality, from 54what has been 55strangled, and from blood. 21For 56from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since 57he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to 58the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 59Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and 60Silas, leading men among 61the brothers, 23and they 62sent this letter with them: “63The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to 64the brothers and sisters in 65Antioch, 66Syria, and 67Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: 68Greetings. 24Since we have heard that 69some 70of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 71confused you by their 72teaching, upsetting your souls, 2573it seemed good to us, having 74become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 7576risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore, we have sent 77Judas and 78Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 79it seemed good to 80the Holy Spirit and to 81us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 82things sacrificed to idols, from 83blood, from 84things strangled, and from 85acts of sexual immorality; 86if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, 87they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the 88congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its 89encouragement. 3290Judas and 91Silas, also being 92prophets themselves, 93encouraged and strengthened 94the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters 95in peace to those who had 96sent them out.97 35But 98Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and 99preaching 100the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Second Missionary Journey

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in 101every city in which we proclaimed 102the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take 103John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had 104deserted them 105in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took 106Mark with him and sailed away to 107Cyprus. 40But Paul chose 108Silas, and left after being 109entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through 110Syria and 111Cilicia, strengthening the churches.