See Verse / Commentary

Acts

Some men came from Judea to Antioch and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised following the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas had a strong disagreement and debate with them, so the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others to go up to Jerusalem to talk with the Apostles and elders about this issue. They were sent on their way by the church, and they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting on the conversion of the Gentiles. They brought great joy to all the brothers and sisters. When they came to Jerusalem they were received by the church, the Apostles, and the elders. They gave an account of everything that God had done with them. But some from the sect of the Pharisees, who had become believers, stood up and said, “It is essential to circumcise the Gentile converts and command them to keep the Law of Moses.” The Apostles and elders gathered together to consider this matter. After much discussion, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that through me the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe. God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, gave His approval to them by giving them the holy spirit just as He did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, by purifying their hearts by faith. So now why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are being saved through the grace of the lord Jesus, just as they are.” Everyone kept silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done among the Gentiles through them. After they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has reported how God first intervened to choose from among the Gentiles a people for His name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written: ‘After these things I will return; I will rebuild the royal house of David which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, all the Gentiles who I have called to be Mine, says the Lord who makes these things known from long ago.’ Therefore my judgment is this: that we do not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled and from blood. For Moses from generations past has had in every city those who proclaim him, since he is read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Then it seemed good to the Apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers. They sent this letter with them: “From the Apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings! We have heard that some of our number, who had no instructions from us, have troubled you with their words, unsettling you. It seemed good to us, having come to a unanimous decision, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our lord Jesus Messiah. So we are sending Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things. For it seemed good to the holy spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these essential things: that you abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves free from these things, it will go well with you. Farewell.” So when they had been sent off, they went to Antioch. Having gathered the group of believers together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it out loud, the group rejoiced over its encouragement. Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long talk. After they had spent some time there, they were sent back in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the Gospel-word of the Lord, along with many others. After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return now and visit our brothers and sisters in every town in which we proclaimed the Gospel-word of the Lord, to see how they are.” Barnabas wanted to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. But Paul did not think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had left them in Pamphylia, and had not continued with them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas, and as they left the brothers and sisters committed them to the grace of the Lord. Paul went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts