| New Living Translation | NET 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.” | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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." |
| 6So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. | 6Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about 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, 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. |
| 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, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, |
| 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. | 9and he made no distinction between them and us, 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? | 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? |
| 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 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 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. |
| 13When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. | 13After they stopped speaking, James replied, "Brothers, 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 explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. |
| 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, | 16After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and 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 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 |
| 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. | 19"Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among 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. | 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. |
| 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 had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues 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 send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. |
| 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 sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters 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 have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused you, upsetting 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, | 25we have unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends 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 are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person. |
| 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 seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules: |
| 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 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. |
| 30The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. | 30So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter. |
| 31And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message. | 31When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at 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 prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech. |
| 33They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace. | 33After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers 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 in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming (along with many others) 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 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." |
| 37Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. | 37Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, |
| 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 one who had left 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. | 39They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, |
| 40Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. | 40but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters. |
| 41Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. | 41He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
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