| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” | 1Then 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.” |
| 2Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. | 2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, 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 Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. | 3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. |
| 4And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. | 4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them. |
| 5But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” | 5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” |
| 6Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. | 6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter. |
| 7And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. | 7After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. |
| 8So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, | 8And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. |
| 9and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. | 9He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith. |
| 10Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? | 10Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? |
| 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” | 11On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” |
| 12Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. | 12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. |
| 13And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: | 13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! |
| 14Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. | 14Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. |
| 15And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: | 15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: |
| 16‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; | 16‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, |
| 17So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’ | 17so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things |
| 18“Known to God from eternity are all His works. | 18that have been known for ages.’ |
| 19Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, | 19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. |
| 20but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. | 20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. |
| 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” | 21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” |
| 22Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. | 22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers, |
| 23They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. | 23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. |
| 24Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— | 24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said. |
| 25it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, | 25So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved 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 will also report the same things by word of mouth. | 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing. |
| 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: | 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: |
| 29that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. | 29You must 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 came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. | 30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. |
| 31When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. | 31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message. |
| 32Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. | 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. |
| 33And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. | 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them. |
| 34However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. | 34 |
| 35Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. | 35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. |
| 36Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” | 36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” |
| 37Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. | 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. |
| 38But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. | 38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. |
| 39Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; | 39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, |
| 40but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. | 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. |
| 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. | 41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. |
|
