Acts, 15

1. And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, [and said], Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

1. Some persons who had come from Judea to Antioch were teaching the brothers in this way, "Unless you are circumcised according to the law of Moses, you cannot be saved."

2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

2. Because of this there was trouble, and Paul and Barnabas had fierce arguments with them. For Paul told the people to remain as they were when they became believers. Finally those who had come from Jerusalem suggested that Paul and Barnabas and some others go up to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles and elders.

3. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

3. They were sent on their way by the Church. As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they reported how the non-Jews had turned to God, and there was great joy among all the brothers and sisters.

4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and [of] the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

4. On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, the apostles and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them.

5. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.

5. Some believers, however, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees, stood up and said that non-Jewish men must be circumcised and instructed to keep the law of Moses.

6. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

6. So the apostles and elders met together to consider this matter.

7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men [and] brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

7. As the discussions became heated, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know what God did among us in the early days, so that non-Jews could hear the Good News from me and believe.

8. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us;

8. God, who can read hearts, put himself on their side by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he did to us.

9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

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

10. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

10. So why do you want to put God to the test? Why do you lay on the disciples a burden that neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry?

11. But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

11. We believe, indeed, that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."

12. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

12. The whole assembly kept silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas tell of all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done through them among the non-Jews.

13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men [and] brethren, hearken unto me:

13. After they had finished, James spoke up, "Listen to me, brothers.

14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

14. Symeon has just explained how God first showed his care by taking a people for himself from non-Jewish nations.

15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

15. And the words of the prophets agree with this, for Scripture says,

16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

16. After this I will return and rebuild the booth of David which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again.

17. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

17. Then the rest of humanity will look for the Lord, and all the nations will be consecrated to my Name. So says the Lord, who does today

18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

18. what he decided from the beginning.

19. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

19. Because of this, I think that we should not make difficulties for those non-Jews who are turning to God.

20. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.

20. Let us just tell them not to eat food that is unclean from having been offered to idols; to keep themselves from prohibited marriages; and not to eat the flesh of animals that have been strangled, or any blood.

21. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

21. For from the earliest times Moses has been taught in every place, and every sabbath his laws are recalled."

22. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

22. Then the apostles and elders together with the whole Church decided to choose representatives from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. These were Judas, known as Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers.

23. And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

23. They took with them the following letter: Greetings from the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the believers of non-Jewish birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.

24. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, [Ye must] be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no [such] commandment:

24. We have heard that some persons from among us have worried you with their discussions and troubled your peace of mind. They were not appointed by us.

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

25. But now, it has seemed right to us in an assembly, to choose representatives and to send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26. Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

26. who have dedicated their lives to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell [you] the same things by mouth.

27. We send you then Judas and Silas who themselves will give you these instructions by word of mouth.

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

28. We, with the Holy Spirit, have decided not to put any other burden on you except what is necessary:

29. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

29. You are to abstain from blood from the meat of strangled animals and from prohibited marriages. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

30. So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

30. After saying good-bye, the messengers went to Antioch, where they assembled the community and handed them the letter.

31. [Which] when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

31. When they read the news, all were delighted with the encouragement it gave them.

32. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed [them].

32. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke at length to encourage and strengthen them.

33. And after they had tarried [there] a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

33. After they had spent some time there, the messengers were sent off in peace by the believers;

34. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

34. Silas, however, preferred to stay with them and only Judas went off.

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

35. So Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of God.

36. And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, [and see] how they do.

36. After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the believers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are getting on."

37. And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

37. Barnabas wanted to take with them John also called Mark,

38. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

38. but Paul did not think it right to take him since he had not stayed with them to the end of their mission, but had turned back and left them in Pamphylia.

39. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

39. Such a sharp disagreement resulted that the two finally separated. Barnabas took Mark along with him and sailed for Cyprus.

40. And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

40. Paul, for his part, chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord.

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

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