| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1But 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 Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the 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. |
| 3So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought 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. |
| 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with 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 who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep 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!" |
| 6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. | 6Then the apostles and the elders assembled to consider this matter. |
| 7And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word 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, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit 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. |
| 9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. | 9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. |
| 10Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we 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? |
| 11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” | 11On the contrary, we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are." |
| 12And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. | 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. |
| 13After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. | 13After they stopped speaking, James responded: "Brothers, listen to me! |
| 14Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. | 14Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for His name. |
| 15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, | 15And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: |
| 16“‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, 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, |
| 17that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes 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, |
| 18known from of old.’ | 18known from long ago. |
| 19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, | 19Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, |
| 20but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, 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 from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” | 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 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. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men 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. |
| 23with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and 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. |
| 24Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, | 24Because we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, |
| 25it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you 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. |
| 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. | 27Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. |
| 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: | 28For it was the Holy Spirit's decision--and ours--to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things: |
| 29that you abstain from what has been 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.” | 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 when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. | 30Then, being sent off, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. |
| 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. | 31When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. |
| 32And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. | 32Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and strengthened them with a long message. |
| 33And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers 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 in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. | 35But Paul and Barnabas, along with many others, remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the message of the Lord. |
| 36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” | 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." |
| 37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. | 37Barnabas wanted to take along John Mark. |
| 38But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to 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. |
| 39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to 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 departed, having been 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 went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
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