# Acts 15

> Lumin Translation

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/15

Lumin’s own translation, drafted with AI from the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, checked verse by verse against them, and approved by Lumin. Brackets mark verses not found in the earliest manuscripts.

How it was made: https://www.lumin.faith/lumin-translation.md

1. Some 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.”
2. This 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.
3. So, 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.
4. When 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.
5. But 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.”
6. The apostles and the elders met together to look into this matter.
7. After 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.
8. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts by faith.
10. So 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?
11. No, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.”
12. The 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.
13. After they had finished, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me.
14. Simeon has described how God first showed his concern for the Gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name.
15. The 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,
17. so 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,
18. things known from long ago.’
19. Therefore my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
20. but that we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21. For from ancient generations Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, since he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22. Then 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,
23. and 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.
24. Since 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,
25. we have agreed unanimously to choose men and send them to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,
26. men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27. So we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in person.
28. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay on you any greater burden than these essential requirements:
29. that 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.”
30. So when they had been sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole group together, they delivered the letter.
31. When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
32. Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters with many words and strengthened them.
33. After 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.]
35. But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, where they and many others taught and proclaimed the good news of the word of the Lord.
36. After 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.”
37. Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, along with them,
38. but 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.
39. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark along and sailed away to Cyprus,
40. but Paul chose Silas and set out, after the brothers and sisters had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord.
41. He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

## Nearby chapters

[Acts 14](https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/14.md)
[Acts 16](https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/16.md)

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