| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” | 1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." |
| 2And after 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. | 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. |
| 3So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. | 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. |
| 4When 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. | 4When 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. |
| 5But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” | 5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses." |
| 6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. | 6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. |
| 7And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. | 7After 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. |
| 8And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, | 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. |
| 9and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. | 9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. |
| 10Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? | 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? |
| 11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” | 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." |
| 12And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. | 12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. |
| 13After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. | 13When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. |
| 14Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. | 14Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. |
| 15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, | 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: |
| 16“‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, | 16"'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, |
| 17that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things | 17that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' -- |
| 18known from of old.’ | 18things known from long ago. |
| 19Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, | 19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. |
| 20but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. | 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. |
| 21For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” | 21For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." |
| 22Then 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 brothers, | 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. |
| 23with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. | 23With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. |
| 24Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, | 24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. |
| 25it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, | 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul-- |
| 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. | 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. | 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. |
| 28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: | 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: |
| 29that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.” | 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. |
| 30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. | 30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. |
| 31And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. | 31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. |
| 32And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. | 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. |
| 33And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. | 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. |
| 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. | 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord. |
| 36And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” | 36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." |
| 37Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. | 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, |
| 38But 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. | 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. |
| 39And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, | 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, |
| 40but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. | 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. |
| 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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