English Standard Version

New King James Version

The Jerusalem Council

But 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.”

1

Conflict over Circumcision

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2

And 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.

2

Therefore, 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.

3

So, 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.a

3

So, 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.

4

When 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.

4

And 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.

5

But 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.”

5

But 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.”

6

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

6

The Jerusalem Council

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

7

And 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.

7

And 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.

8

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

8

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

9

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

9

and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10

Now, 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?

10

Now 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?

11

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

11

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus [b]Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

12

And 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.

12

Then 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.

13

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

13

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

14

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

14

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

15

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

15

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

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,

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;

17

that the remnantb of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things

17

So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the [d]Lord who does all these things.’

18

known from of old.’

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[e]“Known to God from eternity are all His works.

19

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

19

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

20

but 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.

20

but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from [f]sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

21

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

21

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

22

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

Then 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,

22

The Jerusalem Decree

Then 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,[g] and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

23

with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothersc who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

23

They 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.

24

Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled youd with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,

24

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, [h]saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” — to whom we gave no such commandment —

25

it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

25

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

26

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

26

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

27

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

27

We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.

28

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

28

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

29

that 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.”

29

that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual[j] immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.

30

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

30

Continuing Ministry in Syria

So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

31

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

31

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

32

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

32

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

33

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

33

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

Parallel

English Standard Version

New King James Version

Acts 15

Acts 15