1 S ome men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t 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 discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to 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 T hey, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.

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 W hen they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly 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.”

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 T he apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

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

7 W hen there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, 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 G od, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like 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 H e made no distinction between us and them, cleansing 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 tempt God, that you should put 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 we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

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

12 A ll the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

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 fter they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.

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

14 S imeon has reported how God first visited the nations, 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 T his agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

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

16 ‘ After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. 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 T hat the rest of men may seek after the Lord; 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 A ll of God’s works are known to him from eternity.’

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

19 “ Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn 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 that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is 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 from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

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 seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.

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 these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers 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 B ecause 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 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, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them 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 sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you 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 no greater burden on you 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 sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

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. Having 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 the encouragement.

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

32 J udas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.

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 fter they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers 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

However, Silas decided to stay on there.

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

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 A fter some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to 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 B arnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

38 B ut Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do 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 grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away 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 went out, being commended by the brothers 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 H e went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

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