Acts 15

Church Leaders Meet in Jerusalem

1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and started teaching the believers, “If you aren’t circumcised the way Moses commanded, you can’t be saved.” 2Paul and Barnabas didn’t agree with this and they argued sharply with them. So the group sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem with some other believers to ask the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad. 4When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Jerusalem, the church and the apostles and elders welcomed them. Then they reported everything God had done through them.

5Some of the believers who were Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles have to be circumcised and obey the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After they’d talked it over for some time, Peter got up and spoke. “Brothers,” he said, “you know that some time ago God chose me to take the good news to the Gentiles. He wanted them to hear the good news and believe. 8God knows the human heart, and he showed that he accepted the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9God didn’t treat them any differently from us, because he’d made their hearts pure by faith too. 10Now then, why are you trying to test God by putting a heavy load on the shoulders of the Gentiles? Our people of long ago couldn’t carry that load, and we today can’t either. 11No! We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus and that the Gentiles are saved in the same way.”

12Everyone became quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13When they had finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14Simon Peter has described for us how God chose some of the Gentiles to be among his very own people. 15The prophets’ words agree with that. They say,

16“ ‘After this I will return

and set David’s fallen tent back up again.

I will rebuild what was destroyed

and make it what it used to be.

17Then everyone else can look to the Lord,

including all the Gentiles who belong to me, says the Lord.

The Lord is the one who does these things,’

18things known from long ago.

19“Now here is my decision. We shouldn’t hinder the Gentiles from turning to God. 20Instead, we should write to them and tell them that they must not eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. They must not be sexually immoral, they must not eat meat that still has blood in it, and they must not drink blood. 21This will show respect for the law of Moses, since it has been preached in every city from the earliest times, and it’s read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day.”

A Letter to Gentile Believers

22Then the apostles, elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, who were leaders among the believers. 23Here’s the letter they sent with them:

From the apostles and elders, your brothers.

To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

Greetings.

24We’ve heard that some of our people came and bothered and upset you by things they said. But they came without any authority from us. 25So we have all agreed to send some men to you with our dear friends 26Barnabas and Paul, who’ve put their lives at risk for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We’re sending Judas and Silas with them to confirm what we’ve written in this letter. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you. But here are a few essentials. 29Don’t eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. Don’t drink blood. Don’t eat meat that still has blood in it. And don’t be involved in sexual immorality. You will do well to keep away from such things.

Farewell.

30So the men went down to Antioch, gathered the church together there, and delivered the letter. 31When the people read it, they were grateful for its encouraging message. 32Judas and Silas were prophets, and they said many things to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33-34They stayed there for some time, and then the believers sent them back with a blessing of peace to those who had sent them out. 35Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas Disagree

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord. Let’s visit the believers there and see how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them, 38but Paul didn’t think that was a good idea. Mark hadn’t continued with them on their first trip; he’d gone home when they got to Pamphylia. 39Barnabas and Paul disagreed about this so much that they went separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. 40But Paul chose to travel with Silas. The believers in Antioch prayed that God’s grace would go with them. 41Paul first went through Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches there.

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