The
Council At Jerusalem
Some
men came down from Judea to Antioch
And
were teaching the Brothers:
'UNLESS
YOU ARE CIRCUMCISED,
ACCORDING
TO THE CUSTOM TAUGHT BY MOSES,
YOU
CANNOT BE SAVED.'
2
This brought Paul and Barnabas
Into
sharp Dispute and Debate with them.
So
Paul and Barnabas were appointed,
Along
with some other Believers,
To
go up to Jerusalem to see the Apostles and Elders
About
this Question.
3
The Church sent them on their way,
And
as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria,
They
told how the Gentiles had been Converted.
This
News made all the Brothers very Glad.
4
When they came to Jerusalem,
They
were Welcomed by the Church
And
the Apostles and Elders,
To
whom they Reported everything God had done
Through
them.
5
Then some of the Believers
Who
belonged to the Party of the Pharisees
Stood
up and said,
THE
GENTILES MUST BE CIRCUMCISED
AND
REQUIRED TO OBEY THE LAW OF MOSES.'
6
The Apostles and Elders met to consider this Question.
7
After much Discussion, Peter got up and addressed them:
'BROTHERS
YOU KNOW THAT SOME TIME AGO
GOD
MADE A CHOICE AMONG YOU
THAT
THE GENTILES MIGHT HEAR FROM MY LIPS
THE
MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL AND BELIEVE.
8
GOD, WHO KNOWS THE HEART,
SHOWED
THAT HE ACCEPTED THEM
BY
GIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM,
JUST
AS HE DID TO US.
9
HE MADE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN US AND THEM,
FOR
HE PURIFIED THEIR HEARTS BY FAITH.
10
NOW THEN,WHY DO YOU TRY TO TEST GOD
BY
PUTTING ON THE NECKS OF THE DISCIPLES
A
YOKE THAT NEITHER WE NOT OUR FATHERS
HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO BEAR?
11
NO! WE BELIEVE IT IS
THROUGH
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS
THAT
WE ARE SAVED, JUST AS THEY ARE.
12
The Whole Assembly became Silent
As
they listened to Barnabas and Paul
Telling
about the Miraculous Signs and Wonders
God
had done among the Gentiles through them.
13
When they finished, James spoke up:
'BROTHERS,
LISTEN TO ME.
14
SIMON HAS DESCRIBED TO US
HOW
GOD FIRST SHOWED HIS CONCERN
BY
TAKING FROM THE GENTILES
A
PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF.
15
The words of the Prophets
Are
in Agreement with this, as it is written:
16
'After his I will return
And
rebuild David's Fallen Tent,
Its
Ruins I will rebuild,
17
That the Remnant of men may Seek the Lord,
And
All the Gentiles who bear My Name,
Says
the Lord, Who does these things
18
That have been known for ages.'
19
IT IS IS MY JUDGMENT,
THEREFORE,
THAT WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT DIFFICULT
FOR
THE GENTILES WHO ARE TURNING TO GOD.
20
INSTEAD WE SHOULD WRITE TO THEM,
TELLING
THEM TO ABSTAIN FROM FOOD POLLUTED BY IDOLS,
FROM
SEXUAL IMMORALITY,
FROM
MEAT OF STANGLED ANIMALS
AND
FROM BLOOD.
21
For Moses has been Preached in every City
From
the earliest time
And
is read in the Synagogues on every Sabbath.'
The
Council's Letter To Gentile Believers
22
Then the Apostles and Elders,
With
the Whole Church,
Decided
to choose some of their own men
And
send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
They
chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,
Two
men who were leaders among the Brothers.
23
With them they sent the following letter:
The
Apostles and Elders, your Brothers,
To
the Gentile Believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24
We have heard that some went out from us
Without
our Authorization
And
Disturbed you,
Troubling
your minds by what they said.
25
So we all agreed to choose some men
And
send them to you
With
our dear friends Barnabas and Paul--
26
MEN WHO HAVE RISKED THEIR LIVES
FOR
THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
27
Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas
To
Confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.
28
IT SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND
TO US NOT TO BURDEN YOU
WITH
ANYTHING BEYOND THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
29
YOU ARE TO ABSTAIN
FROM
FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS,
FROM
BLOOD,
FROM
MEAT OF STRANGLED ANIMALS
AND
FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY,
YOU
WILL DO WELL TO AVOID THESE THINGS.
Farewell.
30
The men were sent off and went down to Antioch,
Where
they gathered the church together
And
delivered the letter.
31
The people read it
And
were Glad for its Encouraging Message.
32
Judas and Silas,
Who themselves were Prophets,
Said
much to Encourage and Strengthen the Brothers.
33
After spending some time there,
They
were sent off by the Brothers
With
the Blessing of Peace
To
return to those who had sent them.
35
But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch,
Where
they and many others Taught and Preached
The
Word of the Lord.
Disagreement
Between Paul And Barnabas
36
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas,
'Let
us go back and visit the Brothers
In
all the towns where we Preached the Word of the Lord
And
see how they are doing.'
37
Barnabas wanted to take John,
Also
called Mark,with them,
38
But Paul did not think it wise to take him,
Because
he had Deserted them in Pamphylia
And
had not continued with them in the Work.
39
THEY HAD SUCH A SHARP DISAGEEMENT
THAT
THEY PARTED COMPANY.
Barnabas
took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
40
But Paul took Silas and left,
Commended
by the Brothers
To
the Grace of the Lord.
41
He went through Syria and Cilicia,
Strengthening
the Churches.
(Acts
15)
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