| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." | 1Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” |
| 2When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement. | 2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. |
| 3So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they were relating at length the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. | 3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. |
| 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things God had done with them. | 4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them. |
| 5But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses." | 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” |
| 6Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. | 6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter. |
| 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. | 7After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. |
| 8And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, | 8And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. |
| 9and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. | 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 on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? | 10Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? |
| 11On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are." | 11On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” |
| 12The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. | 12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. |
| 13After they stopped speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. | 13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! |
| 14Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. | 14Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. |
| 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, | 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: |
| 16After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, | 16‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, |
| 17so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,' says the Lord, who makes these things | 17so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things |
| 18known from long ago. | 18that have been known for ages.’ |
| 19"Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, | 19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. |
| 20but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. | 20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. |
| 21For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath." | 21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” |
| 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. | 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers, |
| 23They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings! | 23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. |
| 24Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused you, upsetting your minds by what they said, | 24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said. |
| 25we have unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, | 25So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, |
| 26who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. | 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person. | 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing. |
| 28For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules: | 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: |
| 29that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell. | 29You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. |
| 30So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter. | 30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. |
| 31When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement. | 31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message. |
| 32Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech. | 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. |
| 33After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. | 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them. |
| 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming (along with many others) the word of the Lord. | 35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. |
| 36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing." | 36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” |
| 37Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, | 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. |
| 38but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. | 38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. |
| 39They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, | 39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, |
| 40but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters. | 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. |
| 41He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
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