New Living Translation

English Standard Version

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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

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

6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.

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.

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.

8God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.

8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,

9He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.

9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

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?

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?

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

11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

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

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.

13When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me.

13After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.

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

14Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.

15And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:

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

16‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,

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,

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—

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

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

18known from of old.’

19“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

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.

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.

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

21For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

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.

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,

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!

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.

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

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,

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

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,

26who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.

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

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

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.”

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.”

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

30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

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

31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

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

32And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.

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

33And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

34

34

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

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

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.”

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.”

37Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.

37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

38But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.

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.

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

39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

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

40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

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

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.