The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Apostles 15
1 Some men came down from Judea and
taught the brothers,† “Unless you are
circumcised after the custom of Moses, you
can’t be saved.”
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.”
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered
together to see about this matter.
7 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.
8 God, who knows the heart, testified
about them, giving them the Holy Spirit,
just like he did to us.
9 He made no distinction between us and
them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
10 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?
11 But we believe that we are saved
through the grace ofthe Lord Jesus,‡ just as
they are.”
12 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.
13 After they were silent, James answered,
“Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simeon has reported how God first
visited the nations to take out of them a
people for his name.
15 This agrees with the words of the
prophets. As it is written,
16 ‘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
17 that the rest of men may seek after the
Lord: all the Gentiles who are called bymyname,
says the Lord, who does all these things.’*
18 “All of God’s works are known to him
from eternity.
19 Therefore my judgment is that we
don’t trouble those from among
the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but that we write to them that they
abstain from the pollution of idols, from
sexual immorality, from what is strangled,
and from blood.
21 For Moses from generations of old has
in every city those who preach him, being
read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 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.§
23 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.
24 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;
25 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,
26 men who have risked their lives for
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and
Silas, who themselves will also tell you the
same things by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit,
and to us, to lay no greater burden on you
than these necessary things:
29 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.”
30 So, when they were sent off, they came
to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude
together, they delivered the letter.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced
over the encouragement.
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets
themselves, encouraged the brothers with
many words and strengthened them.
33 After they had spent some time there,
they were dismissed in peace from the
brothers to the apostles.
34 †
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in
Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of
the Lord, with many others also.
36 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.”
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who
was called Mark, with them also.
38 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.
39 Then the contention grew so sharp
that they separated from each other.
Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away
to Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and went out,
being commended by the brothers to the
grace of God.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia,
strengthening the assemblies.