Acts 15:1-24 ▼

1 But certain ones having come down from Judea were teaching the brothers, “Unless you? are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you? are not able to be saved.”

2 There having been, then, no small commotion and discussion by Paul and Barnabas with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and certain others out of them to go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

3 Therefore indeed, having been sent forward by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, relating in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers.

4 And having come to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders. And they declared all that God had done with them.

5 Now certain ones of those who believed from the sect of the Pharisees rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

7 And much discussion having taken place, Peter having risen up, said to them, “Men, brothers, you? know that from early days God chose among you? for the Gentiles to hear by my mouth the word of the gospel, and to believe.

8 And the heart-knowing God testified to them, having given them the Holy Spirit, as also to us.

9 And He made no distinction between both us and them, having purified their hearts by faith.

10 Now, therefore, why are you? testing God, putting upon the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11 But we believe to be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same manner as they also.”

12 Now the whole multitude kept silent and were listening to Barnabas and Paul relating what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.

13 And after they were silent, James answered, saying, “Men, brothers, hear me.

14 Simeon related how God first visited to take out of the Gentiles a people for His name.

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

16 ‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen, and its ruins I will rebuild, and I will set it upright,

17 so that the remnant of men may seek out the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom has been called My name—upon them, says the Lord, doing these things

18 known from the age.’

19 Therefore I judge not to trouble those from the Gentiles turning to God,

20 but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from that which is strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses has ones proclaiming him in every city from generations of old, being read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole church, having chosen out of them to send men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leading men among the brothers,

23 having written by their hand: The apostles and the elders, brothers, To those brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.

24 Inasmuch as we have heard that some went out from us, to whom we gave no instructions, and that they troubled you? by words, upsetting your? minds,