1 Now some men, having come down from Judea, were teaching the brothers that unless you are circumcised according to the custom {ethei: established practice} of Moses, you are not able to be saved {sothenai: rescued from judgment}.
2 When significant dissension {stasis: sharp conflict} and debate broke out between Paul, Barnabas, and the others, the church appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others from their group to go up to the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem concerning this matter {zetema: disputed issue}.
3 Thus, after the assembly {ekklēsia: gathered believers} commissioned them, they moved through Phoenicia and Samaria, offering a thorough account of the conversion {epistrophē: turning to God} of the Gentiles, and they brought abundant joy to all the brothers.
4 When they entered Jerusalem, the church, together with the apostles and the elders, received them, and they announced {anengeilan: publicly announced} all that God {theos, Sovereign Guide} had accomplished through them.
5 But some who had believed, from the sect {aireseos: distinct party} of the Pharisees, stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law {nomos: Torah instruction} of Moses.”
6 Then the apostles {apostoloi: commissioned messengers} and the elders came together to examine this matter {logou: disputed question}.
7 After considerable contention, Peter {Petros: leading apostle} stood and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that from ancient days among you God {Theos, Sovereign Chooser} chose that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”
8 God {Theos, Heart-Knowing Witness}, who knows the hearts, testified on their behalf by giving the Holy Spirit {pneuma hagion: Sanctifying Presence} to them, just as also to us.
9 And He {Theos, Righteous Purifier} made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith {pistis: trustful reliance}.
10 Now then, why are you testing God {Theos, Righteous Lawgiver} by setting a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers {pateres: previous generations} nor we had strength to bear?
11 Rather, we believe that we are saved through the grace {charis: undeserved saving favor} of the Lord Jesus {Kyrios Iesous, Savior of All}, in the same manner as they are.
12 Then the whole multitude became quiet, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they recounted all the signs and wonders that God {Theos, Giver of Wonders} had done among the Gentiles {ethne: non-Jewish nations} through them.
13 When they had become silent, James {Iakobos: Assembly Leader} responded, saying, “Men, brothers, listen {akousate: give careful attention} to me.”
14 Simeon has related how God {Theos, First Seeker of Nations} first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people {laos: chosen community} for His name.
15 And the words of the prophets {propheton: inspired messengers} agree with this, just as it has been written {gegraptai: enduring Scripture}.
16 After these things I will return {anastrepso: come back again}, and I will rebuild the tent {skene: royal dwelling} of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will raise it up.
17 So that the remnant of mankind might seek the Lord {Kyrios, Covenant-Claiming King}, and all the nations upon whom My Name has been called, says the Lord, who is doing {poion: actively accomplishing} these things.
18 These things are known {gnōsta: fully perceived} from of old {aionos: ancient ages}.
19 For this reason, I {ego: Leading Decision Maker} judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God {Theos: Welcoming Lord}.
20 Instead, we should write to them to abstain from the pollutions {alisgemata: ritual defilements} of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood {haima: sacred life}.
21 For Moses {Moyses: Covenant Mediator} from ancient generations has in every city those who proclaim him, because he is being read in the synagogues every Sabbath {sabbaton: weekly sacred rest}.
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole assembly{ekklesia: called-out congregation}, to choose men from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men{andras: male representatives} among the brothers.
23 Having written by their own hand, the apostles and the elders, brothers {adelphoi: spiritual family}, to the brothers from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: greetings {chairein: wish for well-being}.
24 Since we have heard that certain ones went out from among us and troubled{etaraxan: caused turmoil} you with words{logois: persuasive claims}, unsettling your souls, to whom we gave no instruction.
25 It seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved {agapetois: dearly loved} Barnabas {Barnabas: trusted coworker} and Paul.
26 Men who have given over their lives {psyche: entire life} for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ {Kyrios Iesous Christos, Exalted Name}.
27 Therefore we have sent {apestalkamen: officially commissioned} Judas and Silas, and they themselves will communicate these same things to you orally {logos: spoken message}.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit {pneuma hagion, Decision-Giving Presence} and to us to place on you no greater burden than these necessary things {epanankes: essential requirements}.
29 Abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality {porneia: illicit sexual conduct}; if you keep yourselves from these, you will do well {eu: spiritual wellbeing}. Farewell.
30 Therefore, those who had been sent off went down to Antioch and, having gathered the multitude {plethos: assembled crowd}, delivered the letter {epistolen: written message}.
31 Upon reading {anagnontes: public reading} it, they rejoiced at the encouragement {paraklesis: strengthening comfort}.
32 And Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, encouraged {parekalesan: comforting appeal} the brothers with many words {logou: thoughtful speech} and strengthened them.
33 And after they had spent time there, they were sent away with peace from the brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers} to the senders {aposteilantas: the senders}.
34 ##ACTS15_V34_VARIANT## Some manuscripts add: But it seemed good to Silas {Silas: trusted coworker} to remain {epimeinai: stay longer} there.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming {euangelizomenoi: announcing salvation} the word of the Lord {Kyrios, Divine Author} alongside many others.
36 After some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord {Kyrios, Gospel Proclaimer}, and see how they are doing {echousin: their present state}.”
37 But Barnabas {Barnabas: supportive coworker} resolved to bring John, the one called Mark {Markos: Roman name}, along.
38 But Paul {Paulos: Discerning Leader} considered it not right to take along {sumparalambanein: close companion} the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
39 Then a sharp disagreement {paroxysmos: intense contention} occurred, so that they separated from one another; and Barnabas {Barnabas: Companion in Ministry} took Mark and sailed away to Cyprus.
40 But Paul chose Silas, and he went out, having been entrusted to the grace of the Lord {Kyrios, Sending Master} by the brothers {adelphoi: local believers}.
41 He was passing through Syria {Suria: eastern Roman province} and Cilicia, strengthening the churches {ekklesias: congregations of believers}.