| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." | 1Then some men came down from Judea and started to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you can't be saved." |
| 2When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement. | 2Paul and Barnabas had quite a dispute and argument with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question. |
| 3So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they were relating at length the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. | 3They were sent on their way by the church, and as they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria they told of the conversion of the gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers. |
| 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things God had done with them. | 4When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done through them. |
| 5But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses." | 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The gentiles must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law of Moses." |
| 6Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. | 6So the apostles and the elders met to look into this claim. |
| 7After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. | 7After a lengthy debate, Peter stood up and told them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days, God chose me to be the one among you through whom the gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe. |
| 8And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, | 8God, who knows everyone's heart, showed them he approved by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. |
| 9and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. | 9He made no distinction between them and us, because of their faith-cleansed hearts. |
| 10So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? | 10So why do you test God by putting on the disciples' neck a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we could carry? |
| 11On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are." | 11We certainly believe that it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, that we are saved, just as they are." |
| 12The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. | 12The whole crowd was silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles. |
| 13After they stopped speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. | 13After Paul and Barnabas had finished speaking, James responded, "Brothers, listen to me: |
| 14Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. | 14Simeon has explained how God first showed his concern for the gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name. |
| 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, | 15This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written, |
| 16After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, | 16"After this, I will come back and set up David's fallen tent again. I will restore its ruined places and set it up again |
| 17so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,' says the Lord, who makes these things | 17so that the rest of the people may search for the Lord, including all the gentiles who are called by my name,' declares the Lord. 'He is the one who has been doing these things |
| 18known from long ago. | 18that have been known from long ago.' |
| 19"Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, | 19"Therefore, I have decided that we should not trouble these gentiles who are turning to God. |
| 20but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. | 20Instead, we should write to them to keep away from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled, and from blood. 21 |
| 21For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath." | 21After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath his books are read aloud in the synagogues." |
| 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. | 22Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers. |
| 23They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings! | 23They wrote this letter for them to deliver: "From: The apostles and the elders, your brothers To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings. |
| 24Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused you, upsetting your minds by what they said, | 24We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled you. |
| 25we have unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, | 25So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul, |
| 26who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. | 26who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. |
| 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person. | 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. |
| 28For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules: | 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements: |
| 29that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell. | 29to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye." |
| 30So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter. | 30So the men were sent on their way and arrived in Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. |
| 31When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement. | 31When the people read it, they were pleased with how the letter encouraged them. |
| 32Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech. | 32Then Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said a lot to encourage and strengthen the brothers. |
| 33After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. | 33After staying there for some time, they were sent back with a greeting from the brothers to those who had sent them. |
| 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming (along with many others) the word of the Lord. | 35Both Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch to teach and proclaim the word of the Lord, as did many others. |
| 36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing." | 36A few days later, Paul told Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they're doing." |
| 37Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, | 37Barnabas wanted to take along John, who was called Mark, |
| 38but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. | 38but Paul did not think it was right to take along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and who had not gone with them into the work. |
| 39They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus, | 39The disagreement was so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, |
| 40but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters. | 40while Paul chose Silas and left after the brothers had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord. |
| 41He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41He went through Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches. |
|
