Acts 15

1And certain men who had come down from Judea were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

2When considerable dissension and debate arose between Paul and Barnabas and those men, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and certain others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this matter.

3So, escorted by the church, they journeyed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

4When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church, apostles, and elders welcomed them, and they reported everything God had done with them.

5But certain believers from the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."

6The apostles and the elders assembled to look into this matter.

7After much debate had arisen, Peter stood up and said to them, "Men, brothers, you know that from days of old among you God chose that the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel through my mouth and believe."

8And God, who knows the hearts, bore witness to them by giving the Holy Spirit, just as also to us.

9And he did not distinguish between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

10Now then, why test God by laying a yoke on the necks of the disciples, a yoke neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.

12The whole crowd fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they described the signs and wonders God had worked among the nations through them.

13After they had fallen silent, James responded, "Men, brothers, listen to me."

14Simeon explained how God first visited the nations to take from them a people for his name.

15And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it stands written.

16After these things I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen, and rebuild its ruins, and set it up.

17so that the remnant of mankind might seek the Lord, and all the nations upon whom my name has been called, says the Lord who does these things.

18Known from eternity.

19Therefore I decide not to trouble those from the Gentiles who turn to God.

20but write to them to abstain from defilements of idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood.

21For since ancient generations Moses has in every city those who proclaim him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

22Then the apostles and elders, together with the entire church, decided to select men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leading men among the brothers.

23The apostles, elders, and brothers wrote by their hand: To the brothers from among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

24Since we have heard that certain ones from among us who departed have agitated you with words, overthrowing your souls, to whom we gave no charge.

25It pleased us, having assembled unanimously and selected men, to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.

26Men who have endangered their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas themselves, who will also report the same things orally.

28For it was pleasing to the Holy Spirit and to us to place no greater burden on you than these necessary things.

29Abstain from sacrifices to idols, from blood, from strangled animals, and from sexual immorality; keep yourselves from these, and you will fare well. Farewell.

30So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude, they delivered the letter.

31After reading it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

32Judas and Silas, themselves prophets as well, exhorted the brothers at length and strengthened them.

33After spending some time, they were dismissed with peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.

35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord with many others also.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now return and visit the brothers in every city where we declared the word of the Lord, to see how they are."

37But Barnabas wanted to take John called Mark along with them too.

38But Paul did not see fit to take him along with them, the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them to the work.

39A sharp contention arose so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus.

40But Paul chose Silas and set out, commended by the brothers to the Lord's grace.

41He made his way through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.