17 Peter motioned with his hand(A) for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James(B) and the other brothers and sisters(C) about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

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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.(A)

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party(B) of the Pharisees(C) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”(D)

The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 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.(E) God, who knows the heart,(F) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,(G) just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them,(H) for he purified their hearts by faith.(I) 10 Now then, why do you try to test God(J) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke(K) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace(L) 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 signs and wonders(M) God had done among the Gentiles through them.(N) 13 When they finished, James(O) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.(P) 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16 “‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’[b](Q)
18     things known from long ago.[c](R)

19 “It 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,(S) from sexual immorality,(T) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(U) 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”(V)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and elders,(W) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(X) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(Y) men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,(Z) Syria(AA) and Cilicia:(AB)

Greetings.(AC)

24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(AD) 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(AE) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(AF) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(AG) 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 the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.(AH) You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

30 So 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,(AI) who themselves were prophets,(AJ) said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace(AK) to return to those who had sent them. [34] [d]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
  2. Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  3. Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things’— / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
  4. Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.

18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,(A) and all the elders(B) were present.

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19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles(A) through his ministry.(B)

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Paul Accepted by the Apostles

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,(A) this time with Barnabas.(B) I took Titus(C) along also. I went in response to a revelation(D) and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles.(E) I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race(F) in vain. Yet not even Titus,(G) who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.(H) This matter arose because some false believers(I) had infiltrated our ranks to spy on(J) the freedom(K) we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel(L) might be preserved for you.

As for those who were held in high esteem(M)—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism(N)—they added nothing to my message.(O) On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task(P) of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[a](Q) just as Peter(R) had been to the circumcised.[b] For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle(S) to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle(T) to the Gentiles. James,(U) Cephas[c](V) and John, those esteemed as pillars,(W) gave me and Barnabas(X) the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.(Y) They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles,(Z) and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor,(AA) the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 2:7 That is, Gentiles
  2. Galatians 2:7 That is, Jews; also in verses 8 and 9
  3. Galatians 2:9 That is, Peter; also in verses 11 and 14

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