RKJNT - Acts - 15

15:1  And certain men who came down from Judaea taught the brethren, saying, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.

15:2  Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

15:3  And being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling of the conversion of the Gentiles: and they brought great joy to all the brethren.

15:4  And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, and by the apostles and elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

15:5  But some from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

15:6  And the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them, Brethren, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

15:8  And God, who knows the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did to us;

15:9  And he made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

15:10  Now then, why do you put God to the test by putting a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, just as they will.

15:12  Then all the multitude kept silence, and listened as Barnabas and Paul declared what miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.

15:13  And after they had finished, James answered, Brethren, listen to me:

15:14  Simeon has declared how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

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

15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will build again the ruins, and I will set it up:

15:17  That the rest of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, who are called by my name,

15:18  Says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.

15:19  Therefore, my judgment is that we do not trouble those who have turned to God from among the Gentiles:

15:20  But that we write to them, to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from things strangled, and from blood.

15:21  For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

15:22  Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to choose men from their own company to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; so they sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brethren:

15:23  And they sent this letter with them; The brethren, both apostles and elders, send greetings to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

15:24  Since we have heard that some, to whom we gave no such commandment, went out from us and have troubled you with their words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law:

15:25  It seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

15:26  Men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15:27  Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who shall tell you the same things by mouth.

15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

15:29  That you abstain from foods offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you shall do well. Farewell.

15:30  So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter:

15:31  When they had read it, the people rejoiced at the exhortation.

15:32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and strengthened them.

15:33  And after they had remained there a time, they were let go in peace by the brethren to those who had sent them.

15:34  [But it pleased Silas to remain there.]

15:35  But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, along with many others.

15:36  And some days later Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are.

15:37  And Barnabas wanted to take with them John, called Mark.

15:38  But Paul did not think it good to take him with them, for he had deserted them in Pamphylia, and did not continue with them in the work.

15:39  And the disagreement was so sharp between them, that they separated from each other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;

15:40  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

15:41  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.