Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 15
The Question of Circumcision and Salvation
Some people came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers and sisters, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” After Paul and Barnabas had no small disagreement and debate with them, the church appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. Sent on their way by the church, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles. This brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters. When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church, the apostles, and the elders welcomed them, and they reported everything God had done through them. But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses.”
Peter: God Made No Distinction
The apostles and elders gathered to consider this matter. After much debate, Peter stood and said to them, “Brothers and sisters, you know that some time ago God chose among you that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the good news and believe. God, who knows the heart, testified for them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. So why are you now testing God by placing on the disciples’ necks a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? No, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.” The whole assembly fell silent and listened as Barnabas and Paul described all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
James: Do Not Trouble the Gentiles Turning to God
When they finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers and sisters, listen to me. Simeon has described how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: ‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord—even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things known from long ago.’ “Therefore, my judgment is that we should not trouble the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead, we should write to tell them to abstain from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had people proclaiming him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Letter from Jerusalem
Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers and sisters. They sent this letter with them: “The apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. We have heard that some people went out from us without our authorization and troubled you with their words, unsettling your minds. So we have unanimously decided 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 will tell you these same things in person. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any further burden on you beyond these essential requirements: abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat from strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.”
Antioch Receives the Decision with Joy
So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the community and delivered the letter. When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouragement. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers and sisters with many words. After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the good news of the Lord’s word with many others.