Acts 15

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

2This led to no small dissension and debate between Paul and Barnabas and these men, so Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

3So, after being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail how the Gentiles had turned to God, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.

4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything God had done with them.

5But some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “They must be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and the elders met together to look into this matter.

7After 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 through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

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

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

10So now, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?

11No, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.”

12The whole gathering fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they described all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13After they had finished, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me.

14Simeon has described how God first showed his concern for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name.

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

16‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,

17so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called, says the Lord, who does these things,

18things known from long ago.’

19Therefore my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

20but that we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.

21For from ancient generations Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, since he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers and sisters,

23and they sent this letter with them: “The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers and sisters from among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

24Since we have heard that some who went out from us have disturbed you with what they said and unsettled your minds, though we gave them no instructions,

25we have agreed unanimously to choose men and send them to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27So we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in person.

28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay on you any greater burden than these essential requirements:

29that you 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 when they had been sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole group together, they delivered the letter.

31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

32Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters with many words and strengthened them.

33After they had spent some time there, the brothers and sisters sent them off in peace to those who had sent them.

34[But Silas decided to remain there.]

35But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, where they and many others taught and proclaimed the good news of the word of the Lord.

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

37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, along with them,

38but Paul insisted that they should not take along someone who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

39The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark along and sailed away to Cyprus,

40but Paul chose Silas and set out, after the brothers and sisters had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord.

41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.