Acts 15

1Some people came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers and sisters, “Unless you are circumcised as the custom of Moses requires, there is no way for you to be saved.” 2This led to fierce dispute and argument between them and Paul and Barnabas. So it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them should go up to Jerusalem and put this question to the apostles and the elders. 3The church sent them off, and as they went through Phoenicia and Samaria they told in full how the Gentiles were turning to God. The news brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters. 4On reaching Jerusalem they were received by the church, the apostles and the elders, and they told them everything God had done in company with them. 5Then some from the party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and insisted, “These Gentiles have to be circumcised, and they must be ordered to keep the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter. 7After a long debate, Peter rose and spoke to them: “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made his choice among you: through my mouth the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and come to believe. 8God, who knows every heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, as he did for us as well. 9He made no difference at all between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts by faith. 10So why are you now putting God to the test? You would lay on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we ourselves have had the strength to carry. 11No, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, and they are saved in just the same way.”

12The whole gathering grew quiet. Everyone listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. 13When they had finished, James responded, “Brothers, listen to what I have to say. 14Simeon has explained how God first looked with favor on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people to bear his name. 15What the prophets said agrees with this, as it stands written: 16‘After this I will come back, and I will build again the fallen tent of David. I will build again its ruins and raise it up once more, 17so that the rest of humankind may seek the Lord, all the nations that are called by my name, says the Lord, who does these things, 18things made known long ago.’ 19So my judgment is that we should not make things hard for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them that they keep away from what idols have defiled, from sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every town since generations long past, and he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to pick men from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas, known as Barsabbas, and Silas, men who held leading places among the brothers and sisters. 23They sent with them this letter: “From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers and sisters of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: greetings. 24We have heard that some who went out from us have disturbed you with what they said and left you unsettled, though we gave them no such instructions. 25So we have come to one mind and decided to choose men and send them to you with Barnabas and Paul, whom we love, 26men who have given their lives over for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27So we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in person. 28The Holy Spirit and we ourselves have decided to place on you no burden beyond these essentials: 29keep away from food offered to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you guard yourselves against these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.”

30So the men were sent on their way and went down to Antioch. There they called the whole community together and handed over the letter. 31When they had read it, they were glad for the encouragement it brought. 32Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, spoke at length to encourage the brothers and sisters and to make them strong. 33After they had stayed there for some time, the brothers and sisters let them go in peace, back to those who had sent them. 35Paul and Barnabas, though, stayed on in Antioch. Along with many others, they taught the word of the Lord and proclaimed it as good news.

36Some days later Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us go back and look in on the brothers and sisters in every town where we announced the word of the Lord, and find out how they are doing.” 37Barnabas wanted to bring John, also called Mark, with them too. 38But Paul did not think it right to take with them a man who had left them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39The quarrel grew so heated that the two of them parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus, 40while Paul picked Silas and set out, after the brothers and sisters had commended him to the grace of the Lord. 41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, making the churches strong.