Acts 15
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New Living TranslationChristian Standard 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.”1Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by 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.2After Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.
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.3When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters.
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.4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with 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 of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
6So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.6The apostles and the elders gathered to consider 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 there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: "Brothers and sisters, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message 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, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he also 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, cleansing 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 are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples' necks that neither our ancestors nor we 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 that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way 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 became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describe all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.13After they stopped speaking, James responded: "Brothers and sisters, listen to me.
14Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.14Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.
15And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:15And the 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,16After these things I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again,
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 the rest of humanity may seek the Lord--even all the Gentiles who are called by my name--declares the Lord who makes these things
18he who made these things known so long ago.’18known from long ago.
19“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.19Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn 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.20but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, 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 Believers21For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues."
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 the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men 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!23They wrote: "From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters 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!24Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts,
25So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,25we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul,
26who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.26who 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 have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth.
28“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:28For it was the Holy Spirit's decision--and ours--not to place further burdens on you beyond these 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.”29that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell."
30The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.30So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter.
31And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.31When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.
32Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.32Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message.
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 back in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.
3434
35Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there. Paul and Barnabas Separate35But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming 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.”36After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they're doing."
37Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.37Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark.
38But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.38But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.
39Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.
40Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.40But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.
41Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
Acts 14
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