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Acts 15

1Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2After Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question. 3Sent on their way by the assembly, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the turning of the nations to God and bringing great joy to all the brothers. 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the assembly, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything God had done with them. 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and elders gathered to consider this matter. 7After 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 nations should hear the word of the good news and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving the Holy Spirit just as to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10So now, why are you testing God by putting on the disciples' neck a yoke that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11Rather, 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 listened to Barnabas and Paul describe how many signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. 13After they stopped speaking, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 14Simeon has described how God first visited the nations to take from them a people for his name. 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

16“‘After these things I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it upright, 17so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, and all the nations over whom my name has been called, says the Lord, who makes these things 18known from long ago.’

19“Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those from the nations who are turning to God, 20but write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, what has been strangled, and blood. 21For from ancient generations Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole assembly, decided 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. 23They wrote this letter to be delivered by them:

“The apostles and elders, your brothers, to the brothers from the nations in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. 24Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, although we gave them no instructions, 25we have agreed with one accord to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah. 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will themselves report the same things by word of mouth. 28For the Holy Spirit and we have decided to lay no further burden on you beyond these necessary things: 29to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, blood, strangled animals, and sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. Gathering the community, they delivered the letter. 31When they read it, they rejoiced at its encouragement. 32Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. 33After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the good news of the word of the Lord, along with many others.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take along John called Mark as well. 38But Paul thought it right not to take along the man who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39There arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus. 40Paul chose Silas and left, entrusted by the brothers to the Lord's grace. 41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

Translation notes 7

15:7–11 — Cleansing and the yoke. Peter applies the earlier events to Gentile inclusion and explicitly says that “we” are saved in the same way as “they.” The yoke image is retained without turning the comparison into a rejection of everything in Israel's law.

15:14 — Simeon. James uses this form of Simon's name for Peter. God's “visiting” recalls Luke 1:68 and 7:16; here the nations are in view.

15:16–18 — David's tent and the nations. The quotation is based on the Greek form of Amos 9:11–12, with wording that differs from the Hebrew form often found in English Old Testaments. The base's “known from long ago” is joined to the preceding sentence. A longer reading instead has, “Known from long ago are all his works to God.”

15:20, 29 — The requirements. The two lists differ in order and expression; these differences are preserved. “Sexual immorality” renders a broad term; some understand it here particularly as prohibited sexual unions. “Blood” and “strangled animals” naturally concern food in this list, though other interpretations and textual forms exist.

15:23 — Your brothers. The base identifies the apostles and elders as brothers; other texts list “the brothers” as an additional group of senders.

15:34 — Numbering gap. The base proceeds from verse 33 to verse 35. A later reading adds, “But Silas decided to remain there.” This explanatory sentence is presented here rather than in the reading text. The base does not explain Silas's presence at verse 40.

15:36–40 — Disagreement. The sharp disagreement and separation are retained without assigning fault or supplying a reconciliation here.