Acts 15

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.

1Some men came down from Judea and taught the believers. They said, "You must be circumcised, the way Moses taught, or you cannot be saved." Being circumcised was a small cutting of skin. It was a sign that a man belonged to God's people.

2When 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.

2Paul and Barnabas did not agree with them at all. They argued about it a great deal. So it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some others should go to Jerusalem. They would ask the apostles and elders about this question. The apostles were the men Jesus chose to lead. Elders were older leaders of the church.

3And 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.

3The church sent them on their way. They traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria. They told how many Gentiles had turned to God. Gentiles are people who are not Jews. This news made all the believers very glad.

4And 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.

4When they reached Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. They told everyone all that God had done through them.

5But 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.

5But some believers who belonged to the Pharisees stood up. Pharisees were teachers who kept the rules of Moses very carefully. They said, "These Gentiles must be circumcised and told to obey the law of Moses."

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

6So the apostles and elders met together to look at this question.

7And 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.

7They talked about it for a long time. Then Peter stood up and said, "Brothers, listen. You know what God did a good while ago. He chose me to tell the good news to Gentiles. They heard it from my mouth, and they believed."

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

8"God knows what is inside every heart. He showed that He accepted them. He gave them the Holy Spirit, just as He gave Him to us."

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

9"He did not treat them any differently from us. He made their hearts clean because they trusted Him."

10Now 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 are you testing God? You want to put a yoke on the necks of these followers. A yoke is a heavy wooden bar laid on animals to make them pull. Our fathers could not carry that load. We could not carry it either."

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

11"We believe the Lord Jesus saves us by His kindness, as a free gift. Gentiles are saved the very same way."

12Then 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.

12Then the whole crowd grew quiet. They listened to Barnabas and Paul. The two men told about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

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

13When they had finished speaking, James spoke up. He said, "Brothers, listen to me."

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

14"Simon Peter has told us what God did first. He came to the Gentiles and took some of them to be His own people."

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

15"The words of the prophets agree with this. Prophets were men who told people what God said. Here is what is written:"

16After 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 come back. I will build David's fallen tent again. I will build up its broken parts. I will set it up again.'"

17That 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 the people will look for the Lord. All the Gentiles who are called by My name will look for Him too. The Lord says this, and He is the one who does it.'"

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

18"'God has known all the things He does, from long, long ago.'"

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

19"So here is what I think. We should not make trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God."

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

20"Instead, let us write to them. Tell them to stay away from food that has been given to idols. Idols are statues that people pray to. Tell them to stay away from sexual sin. Tell them not to eat animals that were choked to death. Tell them not to eat blood."

Note"Things strangled" means animals that were choked to death, so their blood stayed inside. Jewish food rules said the blood had to be drained out first.

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

21"For a long time now, the law of Moses has been taught in every city. It is read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day. A synagogue is the building where Jews meet to worship. The Sabbath is their special day of rest."

22Then 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:

22The apostles and elders and the whole church liked this plan. They picked some of their own men to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas, who was also called Barsabbas, and Silas. Both men were leaders among the believers.

23And 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:

23They sent this letter with them: "From the apostles and the elders, your brothers. To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!"

24Forasmuch 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 men went out from us and upset you. Their words troubled your minds. They said you must be circumcised and keep the law. We never told them to say that."

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

25"So we all agreed together. We chose some men to send to you. They come with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul."

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

26"These two men have put their lives in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

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

27"So we are sending Judas and Silas. They will tell you the same things with their own mouths."

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

28"The Holy Spirit thought this was good, and so did we. We will not lay any load on you except these few needed things."

29That 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"Stay away from food that was given to idols. Stay away from blood. Do not eat animals that were choked to death. Stay away from sexual sin. If you keep away from these things, you will do well. Goodbye."

NoteIn 1611 English, "meats" meant food of any kind, not just animal flesh.

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

30So the men were sent off, and they went to Antioch. They called all the believers together. Then they gave them the letter.

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

31The people read it. Its kind words cheered them up, and they were glad.

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

32Judas and Silas were prophets themselves. They said many things to cheer up the believers and make them strong.

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

33They stayed there for a while. Then the believers sent them off in peace. They went back to the ones who had sent them.

34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

34But Silas was happy to stay there instead.

ManuscriptsMost modern translations leave this verse out. It is in the Greek text the King James translators worked from, but not in the older manuscripts found since, so scholars generally take it as a copyist’s addition rather than part of the original.

NoteThis verse is not in the oldest copies of Acts. Many modern Bibles leave it out or put it in a footnote.

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

35Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch too. They and many others taught people and told them the word of the Lord.

36And 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.

36Some days later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit our brothers. Let's go to every town where we told people the Lord's message. We can see how they are doing."

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

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

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

38But Paul did not think that was a good idea. Mark had left them back in Pamphylia. He had not stayed to do the work with them.

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

39They disagreed so strongly that they split up and went different ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.

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

40Paul chose Silas and left. The believers asked God to be kind to Paul and take care of him.

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

41He traveled through Syria and Cilicia. He made the churches there stronger.