Acts 15:4-41

4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, 1the apostles, and the elders, and they 2reported all that God had done with them. 5But some of 3the sect of the 4Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to 5circumcise 6them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”

67The apostles and the elders came together to 8look into this 9matter. 7After there had been much 10debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “11Brothers, you know that 12in the early days 13God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of 14the gospel and believe. 8And God, 15who knows the heart, testified to them 16giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9and 17He made no distinction between us and them, 18cleansing their hearts by faith. 10Since this is the case, why are you 19putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which 20neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we are saved through 21the 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 22relating all the 23signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After they stopped speaking, 2425James responded, saying, “26Brothers, listen to me. 1427Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15The words of 28the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:16‘29After these things 30I will return, And I will rebuild the fallen 31tabernacle of David, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,1732So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles 3334who are called by My name,’1835Says the Lord, who 3637makes these things known from long ago. 19Therefore, it is 38my 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 3940things contaminated by idols, from 41acts of sexual immorality, from 42what has been 43strangled, and from blood. 21For 44from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since 45he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to 46the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 47Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and 48Silas, leading men among 49the brothers, 23and they 50sent this letter with them: “51The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to 52the brothers and sisters in 53Antioch, 54Syria, and 55Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: 56Greetings. 24Since we have heard that 57some 58of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 59confused you by their 60teaching, upsetting your souls, 2561it seemed good to us, having 62become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 6364risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore, we have sent 65Judas and 66Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 67it seemed good to 68the Holy Spirit and to 69us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 70things sacrificed to idols, from 71blood, from 72things strangled, and from 73acts of sexual immorality; 74if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, 75they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the 76congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its 77encouragement. 3278Judas and 79Silas, also being 80prophets themselves, 81encouraged and strengthened 82the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters 83in peace to those who had 84sent them out.85 35But 86Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and 87preaching 88the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in 89every city in which we proclaimed 90the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take 91John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had 92deserted them 93in 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 94Mark with him and sailed away to 95Cyprus. 40But Paul chose 96Silas, and left after being 97entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through 98Syria and 99Cilicia, strengthening the churches.