Acts 15:1-21

Revised Geneva Translation

15 Then some from Judea came down and taught the brothers, saying, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

² And when there was great dissension and disputation by Paul and Barnabas against them, they ordained that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem (to the apostles and elders) about this question.

³ Thus, being sent forth by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. And they brought great joy to all the brothers.

⁴ And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and elders. And they told what things God had done through them.

⁵ “But,” they said, “some of the Pharisee sect who believed, rose up, saying that it was necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

⁶ Then the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

⁷ And when there had been great disputation, Peter rose up, and said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that a good while ago, God chose me from among us. So that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.

⁸ “And God, Who knows the hearts, bore them witness in giving the Holy Ghost to them even as to us.

⁹ “And after He had purified their hearts by faith, He made no distinction between us and them.

¹⁰ “Now, therefore, why do you tempt God, to lay a yoke on the disciples’ necks which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

¹¹ “But we believe we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as they are.”

¹² Then all the multitude kept silent and heard Barnabas and Paul, who told what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

¹³ And after their silence, James answered, saying, “Men, brothers, hear me.

¹⁴ “Simeon has declared how God first visited the Gentiles, to take a people to His Name.

¹⁵ “And the 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. And I will rebuild the ruins thereof, and I will set it up.

¹⁷ ‘So that the remaining men - and all the Gentiles upon whom My Name is called - might seek after the Lord, says the Lord Who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “From the beginning of the world, God knows all His works.

¹⁹ “Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those of the Gentiles who have turned to God,

²⁰ “but that we write to them to abstain from filthiness of idols, and from fornication, and from that which is strangled, and from blood.

²¹ “For Moses has, for generations, had those who preach him in every city (seeing he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath).”