Acts 15 — The Jerusalem council and the next mission — Greek text and reception

Greek–English Translation

Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

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When Paul and Barnabas had no little dissension and debate with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question.

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Sent 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.

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When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, the apostles, and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them.

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But some believers from the party of the Pharisees rose and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and command them to keep the law of Moses.”

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The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter.

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After much debate, Peter rose and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that in earlier days God made a choice among you, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the good news and believe.

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God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us.

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He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

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Now, therefore, why are you testing God by placing upon the disciples’ neck a yoke that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

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Rather, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.”

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The whole multitude became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul relate all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

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After they fell silent, James spoke: “Men, brothers, listen to me.

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Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for His name.

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With this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written:

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‘After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it upright,

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so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, and all the nations upon whom My name has been called, says the Lord, who makes these things

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known from long ago.’

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Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,

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but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, sexual immorality, what is strangled, and blood.

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For from ancient generations Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

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Then the apostles and elders, with the whole Church, decided to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.

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They wrote through them: “The apostles and elders, your brothers, to the brothers from the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

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Since we have heard that some who went out from among us troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, although we gave them no instruction,

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we have decided with one accord to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

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men who have given over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will themselves report the same things by word of mouth.

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For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to place no further burden upon you except these necessary things:

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to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

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After being sent off, they went down to Antioch, gathered the multitude, and delivered the letter.

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When they read it, they rejoiced at its encouragement.

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Judas and Silas, themselves also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

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After spending some time there, they were sent away in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

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[Editorial absence notice: SBLGNT has no main-text wording at conventional Acts 15:34.]

Greek–English Translation

Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord as good news, along with many others.

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After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are.”

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Barnabas wanted to take along John, who was called Mark, as well.

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But Paul considered it right not to take along the man who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

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A sharp disagreement arose, so that they separated from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus,

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but Paul chose Silas and departed, entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

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He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the Churches.