Acts 15

15 ¹ Now some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." ² And after Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement and debate with them, the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question. ³ So, sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that our Father had done with them.

⁵ But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses." ⁶ Then the apostles and the elders gathered together to look into this matter. ⁷ After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days our Father made his choice among you, that through me the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. ⁸ And our Father, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us, ⁹ and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now then, why are you putting our Father to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they will."

¹² Then the whole assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of the signs and wonders that our Father had done through them among the Gentiles. ¹³ After they finished speaking, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simeon has told how our Father first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. ^a a v14 Simeon is Peter's Hebrew name — the same apostle who spoke in verse 7. ¹⁵ And the words of the prophets agree with this, just as it is written: ¹⁶ "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, ^b b v16 When James says our Father will rebuild "the tent of David that has fallen," he points to the restoration accomplished in Jesus, the promised son of David, who opens the family to people from every nation.

¹⁷ that the rest of mankind may seek our Father, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says our Father, who makes these things ¹⁸ known from long ago.'

¹⁹ Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who are turning to our Father, ²⁰ but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. ²¹ For Moses has been proclaimed in every city since ancient times, since he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath."

A Letter to Our Gentile Brothers

²² 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, leading men among the brothers. ²³ They sent this letter with them: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: greetings.

²⁴ Since we have heard that some who went out from us troubled you with words, unsettling your hearts, though we gave them no such instructions, ²⁵ it seemed good to us, being in full agreement, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have devoted their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will themselves tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

³⁰ So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ And when they read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement. ³² And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. ³³ After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. ^{34 c} c v34 This verse is not in the earliest manuscripts; later copies add: “But Silas decided to remain there.” ³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of our Lord, with many others as well.

Paul and Barnabas Part Ways

³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of our Lord, and see how they are doing." ³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought it best not to take along someone who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they parted from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and set out, entrusted by the brothers to the grace of our Lord. ⁴¹ And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.