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Acts 15:13-29
New International Version
Acts 15:13-29
New International Version
13 When they finished, James(A) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.(B) 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16 “‘After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’[b](C)—
18 things known from long ago.[c](D)
19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,(E) from sexual immorality,(F) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(G) 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”(H)
The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders,(I) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(J) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(K) men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch,(L) Syria(M) and Cilicia:(N)
Greetings.(O)
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(P) 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives(Q) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(R) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(S) and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.(T) You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
- Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
- Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things’— / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
Acts 15:13-29
New Living Translation
Acts 15:13-29
New Living Translation
13 When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter[a] has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:
16 ‘Afterward I will return
and restore the fallen house[b] of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
and restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord,
including the Gentiles—
all those I have called to be mine.
The Lord has spoken—
18 he who made these things known so long ago.’[c]
19 “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
The Letter for Gentile Believers
22 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders[d]—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. 23 This is the letter they took with them:
“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!
24 “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! 25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.
28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”
Acts 15:13-29
Contemporary English Version
Acts 15:13-29
Contemporary English Version
13 After they had finished speaking, James[a] said:
My friends, listen to me! 14 Simon Peter[b] has told how God first came to the Gentiles and made some of them his own people. 15 This agrees with what the prophets wrote,
16 (A) “I, the Lord, will return
and rebuild
David's fallen house.
I will build it from its ruins
and set it up again.
17 Then other nations
will turn to me
and be my chosen ones.
I, the Lord, say this.
18 I promised it long ago.”
19 And so, my friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 (B) We should simply write and tell them not to eat anything that has been offered to idols. They should be told not to eat the meat of any animal that has been strangled or that still has blood in it. They must also not commit any terrible sexual sins.[c]
21 We must remember that the Law of Moses has been preached in city after city for many years, and every Sabbath it is read in our synagogues.
A Letter to Gentiles Who Had Faith in the Lord
22 The apostles, the leaders, and all the church members decided to send some men to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Silas and Judas Barsabbas,[d] who were two leaders of the Lord's followers. 23 They wrote a letter that said:
We apostles and leaders send friendly greetings to all of you Gentiles who are followers of the Lord in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
24 We have heard that some people from here have terribly upset you by what they said. But we did not send them! 25 So we met together and decided to choose some men and to send them to you along with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. 26 These men have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are also sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things that we are writing.
28 The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you. 29 (C) But you should not eat anything offered to idols. You should not eat any meat that still has the blood in it or any meat of any animal that has been strangled. You must also not commit any terrible sexual sins. If you follow these instructions, you will do well.
We send our best wishes.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 15.13 James: The Lord's brother.
- 15.14 Simon Peter: The Greek text has “Simeon,” which is another form of the name “Simon.” The apostle Peter is meant.
- 15.20 not commit any terrible sexual sins: This probably refers to the laws about the wrong kind of marriages that are forbidden in Leviticus 18.6-18 or to some serious sexual sin.
- 15.22 Judas Barsabbas: He may have been a brother of Joseph Barsabbas (see 1.23), but the name “Barsabbas” was often used by the Jewish people.
Acts 15:13-29
New American Standard Bible
Acts 15:13-29
New American Standard Bible
James’ Judgment
13 After they stopped speaking, [a](A)James responded, saying, “[b]Brothers, listen to me. 14 (B)Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. 15 The words of (C)the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:
16 ‘(D)After these things (E)I will return,
And I will rebuild the fallen [c]tabernacle of David,
And I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will restore it,
17 (F)So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
And all the Gentiles [d](G)who are called by My name,’
18 (H)Says the Lord, who [e](I)makes these things known from long ago.
19 Therefore, it is (J)my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from [f](K)things contaminated by idols, from (L)acts of sexual immorality, from (M)what has been [g]strangled, and from blood. 21 For (N)from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since [h]he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 Then it seemed good to (O)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to (P)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and (Q)Silas, leading men among (R)the brothers, 23 and they [i]sent this letter with them:
“(S)The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to (T)the brothers and sisters in (U)Antioch, (V)Syria, and (W)Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: (X)Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that (Y)some [j]of our number to whom we gave no instruction have (Z)confused you by their [k]teaching, upsetting your souls, 25 (AA)it seemed good to us, having [l]become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have [m](AB)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore, we have sent (AC)Judas and (AD)Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For (AE)it seemed good to (AF)the Holy Spirit and to (AG)us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from (AH)things sacrificed to idols, from (AI)blood, from (AJ)things strangled, and from (AK)acts of sexual immorality; [n]if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”
Footnotes
- Acts 15:13 Or Jacob
- Acts 15:13 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 15:16 Or tent
- Acts 15:17 Lit upon whom My name is called
- Acts 15:18 Or does these things which were known
- Acts 15:20 Lit the pollutions of
- Acts 15:20 I.e., to retain the blood
- Acts 15:21 I.e., the books of Moses, Gen through Deut
- Acts 15:23 Lit wrote by their hand
- Acts 15:24 Lit from us
- Acts 15:24 Lit words
- Acts 15:25 Or met together
- Acts 15:26 Lit given over
- Acts 15:29 Lit from which keeping yourselves free
Acts 15:13-29
New King James Version
Acts 15:13-29
New King James Version
13 And after they had [a]become silent, (A)James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 (B)Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘After(C) 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;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the [b]Lord who does all these things.’
18 [c]“Known to God from eternity are all His works. 19 Therefore (D)I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who (E)are turning to God, 20 but that we (F)write to them to abstain (G)from things polluted by idols, (H)from [d]sexual immorality, (I)from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, (J)being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then 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 (K)Barsabas,[e] and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They 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.
24 Since we have heard that (L)some who went out from us have troubled you with words, (M)unsettling your souls, [f]saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”—to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one [g]accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 (N)men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 (O)that you abstain from things offered to idols, (P)from blood, from things strangled, and from (Q)sexual[h] immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:13 stopped speaking
- Acts 15:17 NU Lord, who makes these things
- Acts 15:18 NU (continuing v. 17) known from eternity (of old).’
- Acts 15:20 Or fornication
- Acts 15:22 NU, M Barsabbas
- Acts 15:24 NU omits saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”
- Acts 15:25 purpose or mind
- Acts 15:29 Or fornication
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.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Contemporary English Version (CEV) 
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.