1 A nd certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

But some men came down from Judea and were instructing the brethren, Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved.

2 T herefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

And when Paul and Barnabas had no small disagreement and discussion with them, it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others of their number should go up to Jerusalem with the apostles (special messengers) and the elders about this matter.

3 S o, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

So, being fitted out and sent on their way by the church, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles (the heathen), and they caused great rejoicing among all the brethren.

4 A nd when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were heartily welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they told them all that God had accomplished through them.

5 B ut some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” The Jerusalem Council

But some who believed '> acknowledged Jesus as their Savior and devoted themselves to Him] belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, and they rose up and said, It is necessary to circumcise and to charge them to obey the Law of Moses.

6 N ow the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

The apostles and the elders were assembled together to look into and consider this matter.

7 A nd when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

And after there had been a long debate, Peter got up and said to them, Brethren, you know that quite a while ago God made a choice or selection from among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the message of the Gospel '> attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] and believe (credit and place their confidence in it).

8 S o God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

And God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;

9 a nd made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

And He made no difference between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith ( by a strong and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God).

10 N ow therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our forefathers nor we were able to endure?

11 B ut we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”

But we believe that we are saved through the grace (the undeserved favor and mercy) of the Lord Jesus, just as they.

12 T hen all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

Then the whole assembly remained silent, and they listened as Barnabas and Paul rehearsed what signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles.

13 A nd after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:

When they had finished talking, James replied, Brethren, listen to me.

14 S imon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

Simeon has rehearsed how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people His name.

15 A nd with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

And with this the predictions of the prophets agree, as it is written,

16 ‘ After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;

After this I will come back, and will rebuild the house of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up again,

17 S o that the rest of mankind may seek the L ord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’

So that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom My name has been invoked,

18 “ Known to God from eternity are all His works.

Says the Lord, Who has been making these things known from the beginning of the world.

19 T herefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

Therefore it is my opinion that we should not put obstacles in the way of and annoy and disturb those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

20 b ut that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

But we should send word to them in writing to abstain from and avoid anything that has been polluted by being offered to idols, and all sexual impurity, and that have been strangled, and blood.

21 F or Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” The Jerusalem Decree

For from ancient generations Moses has had his preachers in every town, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

22 T hen it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, resolved to select men from among their number and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, and sent them.

23 T hey wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

With the following letter: The brethren, both the apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings:

24 S ince we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “ You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—

As we have heard that some persons from our number have disturbed you with their teaching, unsettling your minds and throwing you into confusion, although we gave them no express orders or instructions,

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

It has been resolved by us in assembly to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 m en who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Men who have hazarded their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 W e have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.

So we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will bring you the same message by word of mouth.

28 F or it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay upon you any greater burden than these indispensable requirements:

29 t hat you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. Continuing Ministry in Syria

That you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from that have been strangled and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell!

30 S o when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

So when were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having assembled the congregation, they delivered the letter.

31 W hen they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

And when they read it, the people rejoiced at the consolation and encouragement.

32 N ow Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God), urged and warned and consoled and encouraged the brethren with many words and strengthened them.

33 A nd after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.

And after spending some time there, they were sent back by the brethren with peace to those who had sent them.

34 H owever, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

However, Silas decided to stay on there.

35 P aul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Division over John Mark

But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch and with many others also continued teaching and proclaiming the good news, the Word of the Lord '> attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in God’s kingdom].

36 T hen after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”

And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit and help and minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along.

37 N ow Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

38 B ut Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

39 T hen the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

And there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40 b ut Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.

41 A nd he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing and strengthening the churches.