15:1 Now some men came down from · Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
15:2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small argument and debate · · with them, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others among them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders regarding · this issue.
15:3 So being sent on their way by the church, they went through · both Phoenicia and Samaria, narrating in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
15:4 And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that · God had done with them.
15:5 But some arose · from the party of the Pharisees, believers, and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and order them to keep the law of Moses.”
15:6 The apostles and the elders were gathered to see about · this matter.
15:7 After there had been much · debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in days of old God made a choice among you, · that through · my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe.
15:8 And · God, who knows the heart, confirmed this, by giving the Holy Spirit · to them just as · he did to us,
15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ·
15:10 So now why are you testing · God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither · our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
15:11 But through the grace of the Lord Jesus we believe that we will be saved, in the same way as those also.”
15:12 And the entire assembly fell silent, and listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting all the signs and wonders that God had done · through them among the Gentiles.
15:13 When · they finished speaking, James replied, saying, “My brothers, listen to me.
15:14 Simeon has recounted how God first · concerned himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
15:15 And with this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written,
15:16 ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David, which has fallen, and I will rebuild the ruins of it, and I will restore it,
15:17 so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles on whom my name has been called, · says the Lord, who makes these things
15:19 Therefore I conclude that we should not trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning to · God,
15:20 but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
15:21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with · Paul and Barnabas—Judas · called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers—
15:23 writing by their hand, “From the apostles and · elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers in · Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, · Greetings!
15:24 Since we have heard that some from among us have gone out and troubled you with their words, unsettling · your minds—we had given them no such instructions—
15:25 it seemed good to us, having reached agreement, to select men to send to you with · our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
15:26 men who have risked · their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will tell you the same things verbally.
15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit · and to us to impose on you no further burden than these · essential requirements:
15:29 that you abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell.”
15:30 So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter.
15:31 And when they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement.
15:32 Both Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech.
15:33 And when they had spent some time there, they were despatched with a greeting of peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.
15:35 But Paul and Barnabas continued on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
15:36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return indeed and visit the brothers in every city in which we announced the word of the Lord to see how they are.”
15:37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with · them · John who is called Mark.
15:38 But Paul did not think it wise to take with them this one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
15:39 There arose · a sharp disagreement, so that they parted from one another. · Barnabas took · Mark and sailed off to Cyprus,
15:40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers.
15:41 And he traveled through · Syria and · Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
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