The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 15 -

Certain men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, saying, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

When Paul and Barnabas had a confrontation and debate with them, the brothers decided that Paul, Barnabas, and certain others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

They therefore, being sent by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria and announced the conversion of the Gentiles. They brought great joy to all the brothers.

When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things that God had done with them.

The Council at Jerusalem

(Amos 9:11–15; Galatians 2:1–10)

But certain men who believed, who belonged to the group of Pharisees, stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.

After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

God, who knows the heart, witnesses to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us;

and he made no distinction between us and them, making their hearts clean by faith.

Now therefore why do you test God, that you should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they were.”

All the multitude kept silent while they listened to Barnabas and Paul report the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

After they stopped speaking, James answered, saying, "Brothers, listen to me.

Simon has told how God first graciously helped the Gentiles in order to take from them a people for his name.

The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,

’After these things I will return, And I will build again the tent of David, which has fallen down; I will set up and restore its ruins again,

so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, including all the Gentiles called by my name.’

This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times.

Therefore, my opinion is, that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God;

but that we write to them that they must keep away from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

From generations of old there are people in every city who are preaching and reading Moses in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders of the church, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

They wrote this: “The apostles, the elders and brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

We have heard that certain men to whom we gave no such commandment, went out from us and have troubled you with teachings that make trouble for your souls.

So it seemed good to all of us to agree to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

people who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who will also tell you the same things.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

that you turn away from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, it shall be well with you. Farewell.”

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; after they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

When they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement.

Judas and Silas, also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

After they had spent some time there, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.

But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch along with many others, where they taught and preached the word of the Lord.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins

(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.

Barnabas wanted to also take with them John who was called Mark.

But Paul thought it was not good to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and did not go further with them in the work.

Then there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

But Paul chose Silas and left, after he was entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers,(a) “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”

Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.

When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.

The Council at Jerusalem

(Amos 9:11–15; Galatians 2:1–10)

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.

God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,(b) just as they are.”

All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.

Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.

This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’(c)

“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.(d)

They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;

it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.

(e)

But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins

(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.

Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

Footnotes

(a)15:1 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(b)15:11 TR adds “Christ”

(d)15:22 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(e)15:34 Some manuscripts add: But it seemed good to Silas to stay there.