Acts 15

The Council of Jerusalem Acts 15:6–11

⁶Verse 6. The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. ⁷Verse 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. ⁸Verse 8. God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. ⁹Verse 9. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ¹⁰Verse 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?

¹¹Verse 11. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

Testimonies and Conclusion from James Acts 15:12–21

¹²Verse 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. ¹³Verse 13. After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Verse 14. Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations, to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵Verse 15. This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written, ¹⁶Verse 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, ¹⁷Verse 17. That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.

¹⁸Verse 18. All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.’ ¹⁹Verse 19. “Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰Verse 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. ²¹Verse 21. For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Letter to the Gentiles Acts 15:22–29

²²Verse 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. ²³Verse 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. ²⁴Verse 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;

²⁵Verse 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, ²⁶Verse 26. men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷Verse 27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸Verse 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: ²⁹Verse 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.”

Delivery and Encouragement Acts 15:30–35

³⁰Verse 30. So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. ³¹Verse 31. When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. ³²Verse 32. Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them. ³³Verse 33. After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles. ³⁴Verse 34. ³⁵Verse 35. But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Separation of Paul and Barnabas Acts 15:36–41

³⁶Verse 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.” ³⁷Verse 37. Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. ³⁸Verse 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. ³⁹Verse 39. Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰Verse 40. but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

⁴¹Verse 41. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.