| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by 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.” |
| 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. | 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. |
| 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. | 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 came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through 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. |
| 5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep 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.” |
| 6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. | 6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter. |
| 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips 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. |
| 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, 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. |
| 9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. | 9He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith. |
| 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors 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? |
| 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just 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 assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the 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. |
| 13When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. | 13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! |
| 14Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. | 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 are in agreement with this, as it is written: | 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: |
| 16"'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will 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, |
| 17that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does 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 |
| 18things known from long ago. | 18that have been known for ages.’ |
| 19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for 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. |
| 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals 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 the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on 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 choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. | 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, |
| 23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers 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. |
| 24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling 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. |
| 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you 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, |
| 26men who 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 to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. | 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing. |
| 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: | 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: |
| 29You are to 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. | 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 the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. | 30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. |
| 31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. | 31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message. |
| 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. | 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. |
| 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return 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, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. | 35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. |
| 36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and 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 take John, also called Mark, with them, | 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. |
| 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with 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 such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, | 39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, |
| 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. | 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. |
| 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
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