Acts of the Apostles 15

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved."	1 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
2 Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question.	2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
3 They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.	3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles, and they gave great joy to all the brethren.
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them.	4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
5 But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law."	5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up, and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."
6 The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.	6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
7 After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, "My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.	7 And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us.	8 And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us;
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.	9 and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith.
10 Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?	10 Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they."	11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
12 The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.	12 And all the assembly kept silence; and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13 After they had fallen silent, James responded, "My brothers, listen to me.	13 After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brethren, listen to me.
14 Symeon has described how God first concerned himself with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.	14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:	15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written,
16 'After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins I shall rebuild it and raise it up again,	16 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up,
17 so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked. Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,	17 that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
18 known from of old.'	18 says the Lord, who has made these things known from of old.'
19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,	19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols, unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.	20 but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood.
21 For Moses, for generations now, has had those who proclaim him in every town, as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath."	21 For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every sabbath in the synagogues."
22 Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers.	22 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. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren,
23 This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.	23 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, greeting.
24 Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,	24 Since we have heard that some persons from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,
25 we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,	25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.	26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:	27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.
28 'It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,	28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"	29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."
30 And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.	30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31 When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.	31 And when they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.
32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted and strengthened the brothers with many words.	32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words and strengthened them.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent off with greetings of peace from the brothers to those who had commissioned them.	33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brethren to those who had sent them.
34	34 .
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming with many others the word of the Lord.	35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us make a return visit to see how the brothers are getting on in all the cities where we proclaimed the word of the Lord."	36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Come, let us return and visit the brethren in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."
37 Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called Mark,	37 And Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
38 but Paul insisted that they should not take with them someone who had deserted them at Pamphylia and who had not continued with them in their work.	38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
39 So sharp was their disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.	39 And there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 But Paul chose Silas and departed after being commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.	40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia bringing strength to the churches.	41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.