Acts 15 NKJV NLT Parallel

◄ Acts 15 ►

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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.”

1While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers : “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law 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.

2Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.

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.

3The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.

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, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through 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 then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”

6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

6So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.

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.

7At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.

8So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

8God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles 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.

9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through 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 why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were 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.”

11We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

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.

12Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

13And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:

13When they had finished, James stood and said, “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.

14Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.

15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

15And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. 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;

16‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house 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 might seek the LORD, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine. The LORD has spoken—

18“Known to God from eternity are all His works.

18he who made these things known so long ago.’

19Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

19“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for 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.

20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.

21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

21For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.” The Letter for Gentile Believers

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 together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders —Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.

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.

23This is the letter they took with them: “This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers 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—

24“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!

25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

25So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved 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.

27We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.

28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

28“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements:

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.

29You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, 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.

30The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter.

31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

31And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.

32Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

32Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith.

33And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.

33They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.

34However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

35Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

35Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there. Paul and Barnabas Separate

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 time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.”

37Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

37Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.

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 disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.

39Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

39Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus.

40but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

40Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.

41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

41Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

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