New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Acts 15
1
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch. Here is what they were teaching the believers. "Moses commanded you to be circumcised," they said. "If you aren't, you can't be saved."
Reference
Parallel theme
Galatians 5:6
Leviticus 12:3
Colossians 2:8
Acts 15:24
Acts 15:3
Galatians 2:1
References Moses
Acts 15:5
John 7:22
Acts 6:14
2
But Paul and Barnabas didn't agree with this. They argued strongly with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem. Some other believers were chosen to go with them. They were supposed to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Reference
3
The church sent them on their way. As they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how those who weren't Jews had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad.
Reference
4
When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. Then Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.
Reference
5
Some of the believers were Pharisees. They stood up and said, "Those who aren't Jews must be circumcised. They must obey the law of Moses."
Reference
References Moses
Acts 15:1
7
After they had talked it over, Peter got up and spoke to them. "Brothers," he said, "you know that some time ago God chose me to take the good news to those who aren't Jews. He wanted them to hear the good news and believe.
Reference
8
God knows the human heart. By giving the Holy Spirit to non-Jews, he showed that he accepted them. He did the same for them as he had done for us.
Reference
9
He showed that there is no difference between us and them. He made their hearts pure because of their faith.
Reference
10
"Now then, why are you trying to test God? You test him when you put a heavy load on the believers' shoulders. Our people of long ago couldn't carry that load. We can't either.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 23:4
Galatians 5:1
Hebrews 9:9
Isaiah 7:12
Hebrews 3:9
Exodus 17:2
References God
Galatians 4:9
Matthew 4:7
11
No! We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus. Those who aren't Jews are saved in the same way."
Reference
Faith
Galatians 2:16
Grace
Romans 3:24
2 Corinthians 13:14
Romans 5:15
1 Corinthians 16:23
2 Corinthians 8:9
Galatians 1:6
References Jesus
Romans 6:23
Salvation
Titus 2:11
12
Everyone became quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul. They were telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among non-Jews.
Reference
13
When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me.
Reference
Peace
Acts 12:17
14
Simon Peter has explained to us how God first showed his concern for those who aren't Jews. He chose some of them to be his very own people.
Reference
15
The prophets' words agree with that. They say,
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 13:47
16
" 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild what was destroyed. I will make it what it used to be.
Reference
17
Then the rest of the people can look to the Lord. This means all the non-Jews who belong to me. The Lord says this. He is the one who does these things.' --(Amos 9:11,12)
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 65:1
Hosea 2:23
Isaiah 43:7
Isaiah 11:10
Genesis 22:18
Genesis 49:10
References Lord
Zechariah 2:11
Jeremiah 16:19
Malachi 1:11
Jeremiah 14:9
18
The Lord does things that have been known for a long time.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 1:4
1 Peter 1:20
Ephesians 1:11
Acts 17:26
Matthew 13:35
References God
Ephesians 3:9
Numbers 23:19
19
"Now here is my opinion. We should not make it hard for the non-Jews who are turning to God.
Reference
20
Here is what we should write to them. They must not eat food polluted by being offered to statues of gods. They must not commit sexual sins. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not drink blood.
Reference
21
These laws of Moses have been preached in every city from the earliest times. They are read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day."
Reference
22
Then the apostles, the elders and the whole church decided what to do. They would choose some of their own men. They would send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. So they chose two leaders among the believers. Their names were Judas Barsabbas and Silas.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Acts 15:27
Acts 15:32
1 Peter 5:12
Acts 1:23
References Paul
Acts 15:40
Acts 18:5
Acts 17:14
Acts 16:19
Acts 16:29
Acts 17:10
23
Here is the letter they sent with them. The apostles and elders, your brothers, are writing this letter. We are sending it to the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Greetings.
Reference
24
We have heard that some of our people came to you and caused trouble. You were upset by what they said. But we had given them no authority to go.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 15:1
Galatians 5:12
Galatians 5:10
Galatians 1:7
1 John 2:19
Word
2 Timothy 2:14
25
So we all agreed to send our dear friends Barnabas and Paul to you. We chose some others to go with them.
Reference
26
Barnabas and Paul have put their lives in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Reference
27
So we are sending Judas and Silas with them. What they say will agree with this letter.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 15:22
28
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to give you a load that is too heavy. So here are a few basic rules.
Reference
Holy
Acts 5:32
Acts 15:8
1 Peter 1:12
Parallel theme
Matthew 11:30
Revelation 2:24
Acts 15:19
Spirit
John 16:13
1 Corinthians 14:37
1 Corinthians 7:40
29
Don't eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. Don't drink blood. Don't eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And don't commit sexual sins. You will do well to keep away from these things. Farewell.
Reference
30
The men were sent down to Antioch. There they gathered the church together. They gave the letter to them.
Reference
31
The people read it. They were glad for its message of hope.
32
Judas and Silas were prophets. They said many things to give strength and hope to the believers.
Reference
33
Judas and Silas stayed there for some time. Then the believers sent them away with the blessing of peace. They sent them back to those who had sent them out.
Reference
35
Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. There they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
Reference
36
Some time later Paul spoke to Barnabas. "Let's go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord," he said. "Let's visit the believers and see how they are doing."
Reference
37
Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.
Reference
References John
Acts 12:12
38
But Paul didn't think it was wise to take him. Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. He hadn't continued with them in their work.
Reference
References Paul
Acts 13:13
39
Barnabas and Paul strongly disagreed with each other. So they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.
Reference
40
But Paul chose Silas. The believers asked the Lord to give his grace to Paul and Silas as they went.
Reference
Chapter Summary
Acts 15 records one of the most important decisions in the history of the early Christian church, as the apostles and church leaders meet in Jerusalem to decide whether Gentile believers must become Jewish and follow the full Law of Moses in order to be saved.
The disagreement begins when some teachers come to Antioch and tell Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised according to the Law of Moses, but Paul and Barnabas strongly oppose this teaching because they understand salvation to come through the grace of Jesus rather than through becoming Jewish.
The question becomes so important that Paul and Barnabas travel to Jerusalem to discuss it with the apostles and elders, while explaining along the way how many Gentiles have turned to God.
At the meeting, some believers from a Pharisee background continue to argue that Gentile Christians should be circumcised and required to obey the Law, creating a long and serious discussion about what salvation means and what should be expected of new believers.
Peter then speaks about his experience with Cornelius and explains that God Himself showed that Gentiles were accepted by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He had given the Spirit to Jewish believers.
Peter argues that both Jews and Gentiles are saved through the grace of Jesus, rather than through carrying a religious burden that even previous generations had struggled to carry.
Paul and Barnabas then describe the signs and wonders God has performed among Gentiles, providing further evidence that God is actively working among people who are not Jewish.
Finally, James, an important leader in Jerusalem, uses Scripture to show that God's plan has always included people from the nations, and he recommends that the church should not make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to God.
The leaders therefore decide not to require circumcision or full obedience to the Mosaic Law from Gentile believers, but they ask them to avoid several practices that would create serious problems in the mixed Jewish-Gentile Christian community, including food connected with idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.
The decision is written in a letter and sent to Antioch with Paul, Barnabas, Judas Barsabbas, and Silas, and when the believers read the letter, they are greatly encouraged because the decision removes the burden that had been placed on them.
After the issue is settled, Paul proposes another missionary journey so that he and Barnabas can return to the churches they previously established and see how the believers are doing.
However, Paul and Barnabas disagree strongly about whether John Mark should accompany them, because Mark had left the earlier missionary journey before it was finished.
The disagreement becomes so serious that the two missionaries separate, with Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus while Paul chooses Silas and begins another missionary journey through Syria and Cilicia.
The central message of Acts 15 is that salvation is received through the grace of Jesus and is not dependent on becoming Jewish or following the entire Mosaic Law.
The chapter is also important because it shows that the early church did not ignore difficult disagreements but gathered its leaders, listened to different viewpoints, considered Scripture and God's work, and reached a decision that protected the unity of the growing church.
Another important lesson is that Christian unity does not mean that every disagreement disappears, because even Paul and Barnabas, two important missionaries who had worked closely together, eventually separated over a serious disagreement.
Yet the disagreement does not stop the mission; instead, it results in two missionary teams, with Barnabas and Mark going to Cyprus and Paul and Silas traveling through Syria and Cilicia.
Acts 15 therefore represents both a theological turning point and a missionary turning point, because the church clearly establishes that Gentiles can belong fully to God's people through faith in Christ, while Paul's separation from Barnabas opens the way for a new stage of missionary expansion.
The disagreement begins when some teachers come to Antioch and tell Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised according to the Law of Moses, but Paul and Barnabas strongly oppose this teaching because they understand salvation to come through the grace of Jesus rather than through becoming Jewish.
The question becomes so important that Paul and Barnabas travel to Jerusalem to discuss it with the apostles and elders, while explaining along the way how many Gentiles have turned to God.
At the meeting, some believers from a Pharisee background continue to argue that Gentile Christians should be circumcised and required to obey the Law, creating a long and serious discussion about what salvation means and what should be expected of new believers.
Peter then speaks about his experience with Cornelius and explains that God Himself showed that Gentiles were accepted by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He had given the Spirit to Jewish believers.
Peter argues that both Jews and Gentiles are saved through the grace of Jesus, rather than through carrying a religious burden that even previous generations had struggled to carry.
Paul and Barnabas then describe the signs and wonders God has performed among Gentiles, providing further evidence that God is actively working among people who are not Jewish.
Finally, James, an important leader in Jerusalem, uses Scripture to show that God's plan has always included people from the nations, and he recommends that the church should not make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to God.
The leaders therefore decide not to require circumcision or full obedience to the Mosaic Law from Gentile believers, but they ask them to avoid several practices that would create serious problems in the mixed Jewish-Gentile Christian community, including food connected with idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.
The decision is written in a letter and sent to Antioch with Paul, Barnabas, Judas Barsabbas, and Silas, and when the believers read the letter, they are greatly encouraged because the decision removes the burden that had been placed on them.
After the issue is settled, Paul proposes another missionary journey so that he and Barnabas can return to the churches they previously established and see how the believers are doing.
However, Paul and Barnabas disagree strongly about whether John Mark should accompany them, because Mark had left the earlier missionary journey before it was finished.
The disagreement becomes so serious that the two missionaries separate, with Barnabas taking Mark to Cyprus while Paul chooses Silas and begins another missionary journey through Syria and Cilicia.
The central message of Acts 15 is that salvation is received through the grace of Jesus and is not dependent on becoming Jewish or following the entire Mosaic Law.
The chapter is also important because it shows that the early church did not ignore difficult disagreements but gathered its leaders, listened to different viewpoints, considered Scripture and God's work, and reached a decision that protected the unity of the growing church.
Another important lesson is that Christian unity does not mean that every disagreement disappears, because even Paul and Barnabas, two important missionaries who had worked closely together, eventually separated over a serious disagreement.
Yet the disagreement does not stop the mission; instead, it results in two missionary teams, with Barnabas and Mark going to Cyprus and Paul and Silas traveling through Syria and Cilicia.
Acts 15 therefore represents both a theological turning point and a missionary turning point, because the church clearly establishes that Gentiles can belong fully to God's people through faith in Christ, while Paul's separation from Barnabas opens the way for a new stage of missionary expansion.