Acts 15

1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch. They taught the believers: Unless you are circumcised the way Moses taught, you cannot be saved.

2This caused a sharp argument between Paul and Barnabas and these men. So the church chose Paul and Barnabas, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem. They were to talk with the apostles and elders about this question.

3The church sent them on their way. As they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the non-Jewish people had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad.

4When they came to Jerusalem, the church, the apostles, and the elders welcomed them. Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.

5Then some believers who belonged to the group called the Pharisees stood up and said: The non-Jewish people must be circumcised. They must be required to keep the law of Moses.

6The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

7After much discussion, Peter stood up and spoke to them: Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me from among you. Through me, the non-Jewish people heard the good news and believed.

8God knows every heart. He showed that He accepted them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did for us.

9He made no difference between us and them. He made their hearts clean through faith.

10So now, why do you try to test God? Why put a heavy burden on the non-Jewish disciples that neither we nor our ancestors could carry?

11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.

12The whole group became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas and Paul told about the signs and wonders God had done among the non-Jewish people through them.

13When they finished, James spoke up: Brothers, listen to me.

14Simon has told us how God first acted to choose a people for His name from the non-Jewish people.

15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

17So that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the non-Jewish people who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things

18That have been known for ages.

19So it is my judgment that we should not make it hard for the non-Jewish people who are turning to God.

20Instead, we should write to them. We should tell them to stay away from food offered to idols, from sexual sin, from the meat of animals that were strangled, 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.

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, two leaders among the believers.

23With them they sent this letter: From the apostles and elders, your brothers. To the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

24We have heard that some men went out from us without our permission. They troubled you and confused 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,

26Men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27So we are sending Judas and Silas. They will tell you in person the same things we are writing.

28The Holy Spirit and we agreed not to place on you any burden beyond these things:

29Stay away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sin. You will do well if you 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.

31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.

32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.

33After spending some time there, the believers sent them back in peace to those who had sent them.

34But Silas decided to stay there.

35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached 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.

37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,

38But Paul did not think it was wise to take him. John Mark had left them in Pamphylia and had not continued the work with them.

39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

40But Paul chose Silas. The believers gave Paul over to the grace of the Lord, and he left.

41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.