Verse-Reference
Reference-Verse
Abbreviate Books
Quotes around Verses      |
 Act 15:1 |
While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the Christians [fn]: "Unless you keep the ancient Jewish custom of circumcision taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." |
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Act 15:2 |
Paul and Barnabas, disagreeing with them, argued forcefully and at length. Finally, Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. |
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Act 15:3 |
The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. [fn] They told them--much to everyone's joy--that the Gentiles, too, were being converted. |
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Act 15:4 |
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported on what God had been doing through their ministry. |
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Act 15:5 |
But then some of the men who had been Pharisees before their conversion stood up and declared that all Gentile converts must be circumcised and be required to follow the law of Moses. |
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Act 15:6 |
So the apostles and church elders got together to decide this question. |
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Act 15:7 |
At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: "Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. |
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Act 15:8 |
God, who knows people's hearts, confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave him to us. |
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Act 15:9 |
He made no distinction between us and them, for he also cleansed their hearts through faith. |
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Act 15:10 |
Why are you now questioning God's way by burdening the Gentile believers [fn] with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? |
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Act 15:11 |
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the special favor of the Lord Jesus." |
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Act 15:12 |
There was no further discussion, and everyone listened as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. |
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Act 15:13 |
When they had finished, James stood and said, "Brothers, listen to me. |
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Act 15:14 |
Peter [fn] has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. |
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Act 15:15 |
And this conversion of Gentiles agrees with what the prophets predicted. For instance, it is written: |
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Act 15:16 |
`Afterward I will return, and I will restore the fallen kingdom of David. From the ruins I will rebuild it, and I will restore it, |
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Act 15:17 |
so that the rest of humanity might find the Lord, including the Gentiles-- all those I have called to be mine. This is what the Lord says, |
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Act 15:18 |
he who made these things known long ago.' [fn] |
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Act 15:19 |
And so my judgment is that we should stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God, |
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Act 15:20 |
except that we should write to them and tell them to abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, from sexual immorality, and from consuming blood or eating the meat of strangled animals. |
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Act 15:21 |
For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations." |
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Act 15:22 |
Then the apostles and elders and the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders [fn]--Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. |
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Act 15:23 |
This is the letter they took along with them: "This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings! |
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Act 15:24 |
"We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but they had no such instructions from us. |
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Act 15:25 |
So it seemed good to us, having unanimously agreed on our decision, to send you these official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, |
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Act 15:26 |
who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
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Act 15:27 |
So we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you what we have decided concerning your question. |
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Act 15:28 |
"For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these requirements: |
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Act 15:29 |
You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell." |
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Act 15:30 |
The four messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the Christians and delivered the letter. |
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Act 15:31 |
And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message. |
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Act 15:32 |
Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke extensively to the Christians, encouraging and strengthening their faith. |
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Act 15:33 |
They stayed for a while, and then Judas and Silas were sent back to Jerusalem, with the blessings of the Christians, to those who had sent them. [fn] |
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Act 15:34 |
Omitted from the NLT. See the  button or the footnotes for additional information.
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Act 15:35 |
Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch to assist many others who were teaching and preaching the word of the Lord there. |
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Act 15:36 |
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return to each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are getting along." |
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Act 15:37 |
Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. |
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Act 15:38 |
But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not shared in their work. |
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Act 15:39 |
Their disagreement over this was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. |
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Act 15:40 |
Paul chose Silas, and the believers sent them off, entrusting them to the Lord's grace. |
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Act 15:41 |
So they traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches there. |
NLT Footnotes:
