Acts 15

1And some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2And after no small dissension and debate had arisen between Paul and Barnabas and them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.

3So then, having been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers.

4When 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.

5But some of those from the party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying that it is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

6So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.

7And after much debate had taken place, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that from ancient days God chose among you that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”

8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,

9And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

10Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11But through the grace of the Lord Jesus we believe that we will be saved, just as they also will be.

12And the whole assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13And after they became silent, James answered, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.”

14Simeon has recounted how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for his name.

15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

16After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,

17so that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name has been called, says the Lord, who does these things

18known from of old.

19Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

20but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

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

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, men who were leading among the brothers.

23Having written by their hand: “The apostles and the elder brothers, to the brothers from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.”

24Since we have heard that some went out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, to whom we gave no instructions,

25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

27Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will report the same things by word of mouth.

28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden than these necessary things:

29to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.

30So, after being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the multitude, they delivered the letter.

31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

32Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged the brothers at length and strengthened them.

33And after spending some time there, they were sent off in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.

34But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

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

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

37But Barnabas wanted to take along also John, who was called Mark.

38But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man, who had withdrawn from them from Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

39And there arose such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,

40But Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.