| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers : “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law 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.” |
| 2Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to 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 the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted. | 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, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. 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. |
| 5But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow 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.” |
| 6So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. | 6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter. |
| 7At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News 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 knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles 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. |
| 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. | 9He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith. |
| 10So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were 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? |
| 11We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” | 11On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” |
| 12Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. | 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 had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. | 13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! |
| 14Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. | 14Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. |
| 15And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written: | 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: |
| 16‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house 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 might seek the LORD, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine. The LORD has spoken— | 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 |
| 18he who made these things known so long ago.’ | 18that have been known for ages.’ |
| 19“And so my judgment is 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 and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming 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 these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.” The Letter for Gentile Believers | 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 together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders —Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. | 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, |
| 23This is the letter they took with them: “This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written 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. |
| 24“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! | 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 decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved 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. |
| 27We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question. | 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing. |
| 28“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: | 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: |
| 29You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, 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. |
| 30The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. | 30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. |
| 31And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message. | 31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message. |
| 32Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith. | 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. |
| 33They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace. | 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them. |
| 35Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there. Paul and Barnabas Separate | 35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. |
| 36After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers 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 agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. | 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. |
| 38But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their 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. |
| 39Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. | 39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, |
| 40Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. | 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. |
| 41Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. | 41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
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