| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” | 1Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!" |
| 2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. | 2But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, the church arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy. |
| 3Sent 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. | 3When they had been sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, explaining in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they created great joy among all the brothers. |
| 4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them. | 4When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. |
| 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” | 5But some of the believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses!" |
| 6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter. | 6Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter. |
| 7After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. | 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them: "Brothers, you are aware that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the gospel message and believe. |
| 8And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. | 8And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us. |
| 9He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith. | 9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. |
| 10Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? | 10Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples' necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? |
| 11On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” | 11On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are." |
| 12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. | 12Then the whole assembly fell silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. |
| 13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! | 13After they stopped speaking, James responded: "Brothers, listen to me! |
| 14Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. | 14Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name. |
| 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: | 15And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: |
| 16‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, | 16After these things I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, |
| 17so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things | 17so the rest of humanity may seek the Lord-- even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, declares the Lord who does these things, |
| 18that have been known for ages.’ | 18known from long ago. |
| 19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. | 19Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, |
| 20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. | 20but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. |
| 21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” | 21For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues." |
| 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers, | 22Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers. |
| 23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. | 23They wrote this letter to be delivered by them: From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. |
| 24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said. | 24Because we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, |
| 25So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, | 25we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, |
| 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. | 26who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing. | 27Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. |
| 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: | 28For it was the Holy Spirit's decision--and ours--to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things: |
| 29You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. | 29that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell. |
| 30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. | 30Then, being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. |
| 31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message. | 31When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. |
| 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. | 32Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message. |
| 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them. | 33After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. |
| 35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. | 35But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord. |
| 36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” | 36After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we have preached the message of the Lord and see how they're doing." |
| 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. | 37Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. |
| 38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. | 38But Paul did not think it appropriate to take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. |
| 39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, | 39There was such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. |
| 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. | 40Then Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers. |
| 41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
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