Acts 15Book 44 of 66 · 41 verses · MBT primary, NKJV fallback where MBT pending
And certain men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.
But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
So God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
and made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.
Then all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
After they stopped speaking, James responded: “Brothers and sisters, listen to me.
Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.
And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
‘After this I will return and rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,
so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord — even all the Gentiles who are called by my name — declares the Lord who makes these things.
Known from long ago.
Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood.
For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.
They wrote: “From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,
it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose 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.
Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.
For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision — and ours — not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:
that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”
So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.
When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message.
After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.
However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord.
After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.”
Now Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.
But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.
They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.
But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.
He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.