Chapter 15

1Some people came from Judea and began teaching the believers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom handed down by Moses, you cannot be rescued by God.”

2Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed and debated with them. So the community appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others to go to Jerusalem and discuss this question with the apostles and community leaders.

3The community sent them on their way. As they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they described in detail how non-Jews were turning to God. This brought great joy to all the believers.

4When they arrived in Jerusalem, the community, the apostles, and the leaders welcomed them. Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.

5But some believers who belonged to the Pharisee group stood up and said, “The non-Jewish believers must be circumcised and commanded to obey the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and the community leaders gathered to consider this matter.

7After a long debate, Peter stood and said, “My fellow believers, you know that some time ago God chose me from among you so that non-Jews would hear the good news from me and believe it.

8Peter continued, “God, who knows every heart, showed that he accepted them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave the Spirit to us.

9He made no distinction between us and them. He cleansed their hearts because they trusted him.

10So why are you now putting God to the test? Why place a yoke on the disciples’ necks—a burden that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to carry?

11No. We trust that we are saved through the undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.”

12The whole gathering became quiet and listened as Barnabas and Paul described the miraculous signs and astonishing deeds God had done through them among the non-Jews.

13When they finished speaking, James responded, “My fellow believers, listen to me.

14Simeon, also known as Peter, has explained how God first reached out to the non-Jews to take from among them a people who would belong to him.

15The words of God’s prophets agree with this, as Scripture says:

16‘After this I will return. I will rebuild David’s fallen tent—his ruined royal house. I will rebuild its wreckage and raise it up again,

17so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, including all the nations that bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things.

18These things have been known from long ago.’

19James continued, “Therefore, I conclude that we should not make things difficult for non-Jews who are turning to God.

20Instead, we should write and tell them to avoid food polluted by being offered to idols, sexual immorality, meat from strangled animals, and blood.

21For generations, the law of Moses has had people proclaiming it in every city. It is read aloud in Jewish meeting houses every Sabbath, the Jewish weekly day of rest.”

22Then the apostles, the community leaders, and the whole community decided to choose representatives from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both respected leaders among the believers.

23They sent this letter with them: “We apostles and community leaders, your fellow believers, greet the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

24The letter continued, “We have heard that some people went out from among us and upset you with their words, unsettling your minds. We gave them no such instructions.

25So we met together, reached complete agreement, and decided to choose representatives to send to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul.

26These men have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.

27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will personally tell you the same things.

28The Holy Spirit and we have decided not to place any further burden on you beyond these essential requirements:

29Avoid food offered to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. You will do well if you carefully keep away from these things. Farewell.”

30After the representatives were sent off, they went down to Antioch. They gathered the whole community and delivered the letter.

31When the believers read it, they rejoiced because its message encouraged them.

32Judas and Silas, who also spoke messages from God, talked at length to encourage and strengthen the believers.

33After spending some time there, they were sent off in peace by the believers to return to those who had sent them.

35Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. Along with many others, they taught and announced the Lord’s message as good news.

36Some days later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the Lord’s message, to see how they are doing.”

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

38But Paul thought they should not take him, because Mark had left them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

39Their disagreement became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.

40Paul chose Silas and left after the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s generous care.

41Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the communities of believers.