| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” | 1Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." |
| 2Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. | 2When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement. |
| 3So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. | 3So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they were relating at length the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. |
| 4And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. | 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things God had done with them. |
| 5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” | 5But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses." |
| 6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. | 6Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. |
| 7And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, 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 know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. |
| 8So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, | 8And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, |
| 9and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. | 9and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. |
| 10Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? | 10So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? |
| 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” | 11On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are." |
| 12Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. | 12The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. |
| 13And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: | 13After they stopped speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. |
| 14Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. | 14Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. |
| 15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: | 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, |
| 16‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; | 16After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, |
| 17So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’ | 17so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,' says the Lord, who makes these things |
| 18“Known to God from eternity are all His works. | 18known from long ago. |
| 19Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, | 19"Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, |
| 20but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. | 20but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. |
| 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” | 21For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath." |
| 22Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. | 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. |
| 23They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. | 23They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings! |
| 24Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— | 24Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused you, upsetting your minds by what they said, |
| 25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, | 25we have unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends 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 will also report the same things by word of mouth. | 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person. |
| 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: | 28For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules: |
| 29that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. | 29that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell. |
| 30So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. | 30So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter. |
| 31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. | 31When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement. |
| 32Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. | 32Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech. |
| 33And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. | 33After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. |
| 34However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. | 34 |
| 35Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. | 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming (along with many others) the word of the Lord. |
| 36Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” | 36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing." |
| 37Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. | 37Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, |
| 38But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. | 38but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. |
| 39Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; | 39They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, |
| 40but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. | 40but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters. |
| 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
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