Shared Word Translation

Acts 15

The Jerusalem Council

And certain men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you are not able to be saved.” And when there arose no small dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this question.

Therefore being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers. And arriving in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

But some of those from the party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. And after much debate had taken place, Peter stood up and said to them,

“Men, brothers, you know that from early days God chose among you that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as also to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why are you testing God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we are saved in the same way as also they.”

And all the multitude became silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul describing what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

And after they finished speaking, James answered, saying,

“Men, brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.

And with this agree the words of the prophets, just as it is written: ‘After these things I will return,

and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen,

and I will rebuild its ruins,

and I will restore it,

so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,

even all the Gentiles upon whom my name has been called,

says the Lord who makes these things known from of old.’

Known from of old are his works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.

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

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, 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, writing by their hand:

“The apostles and the elders, brothers,

To the brothers who are from the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, to whom we gave no instruction, it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: to abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality; if you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

The Council’s Letter Delivered

So when they were sent off, they came down to Antioch, and gathering the multitude together, they delivered the letter. And reading it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement.

And Judas and Silas, also being prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, with many others also.