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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Acts 15 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/acts/15.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/acts/15-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Acts 15</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../acts/14.htm" title="Acts 14">◄</a> Acts 15 <a href="../acts/16.htm" title="Acts 16">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_1"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.1" class="v44_15_1">1</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.1!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Some people came from Judea and started teaching the Lord's followers that they could not be saved, unless they were circumcised as Moses had taught. </span><span class="v44_15_2"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.2" class="v44_15_2">2</span>This caused trouble, and Paul and Barnabas argued with them about this teaching. So it was decided to send Paul and Barnabas and a few others to Jerusalem to discuss this problem with the apostles and the church leaders.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Church Leaders Meet in Jerusalem</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_3"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.3" class="v44_15_3">3</span>The men who were sent by the church went through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling how the Gentiles had turned to God. This news made the Lord's followers very happy. </span><span class="v44_15_4"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.4" class="v44_15_4">4</span>When the men arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, including the apostles and the leaders. They told them everything God had helped them do. </span><span class="v44_15_5"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.5" class="v44_15_5">5</span>But some Pharisees had become followers of the Lord. They stood up and said, “Gentiles who have faith in the Lord must be circumcised and told to obey the Law of Moses.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_6"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.6" class="v44_15_6">6</span>The apostles and church leaders met to discuss this problem about Gentiles. </span><span class="v44_15_7"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.7" class="v44_15_7">7</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.7!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> They had talked it over for a long time, when Peter got up and said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_7">My friends, you know that God decided long ago to let me be the one from your group to preach the good news to the Gentiles. God did this so they would hear and obey him. </span><span class="v44_15_8"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.8" class="v44_15_8">8</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.8!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> He knows what is in everyone's heart. And he showed he had chosen the Gentiles, when he gave them the Holy Spirit, just as he had given his Spirit to us. </span><span class="v44_15_9"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.9" class="v44_15_9">9</span>God treated them in the same way that he treated us. They put their faith in him, and he made their hearts pure.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_10"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.10" class="v44_15_10">10</span>Now why are you trying to make God angry by placing a heavy burden on these followers? This burden was too heavy for us or our ancestors. </span><span class="v44_15_11"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.11" class="v44_15_11">11</span>But we believe that we will be saved by the gift of undeserved grace from our Lord Jesus Christ, just as the Gentiles are.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_12"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.12" class="v44_15_12">12</span>Everyone kept quiet and listened as Barnabas and Paul told how God had given them the power to work a lot of miracles and wonders for the Gentiles.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_13"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.13" class="v44_15_13">13</span>After they had finished speaking, James<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.13!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_13">My friends, listen to me! </span><span class="v44_15_14"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.14" class="v44_15_14">14</span>Simon Peter<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.14!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> has told how God first came to the Gentiles and made some of them his own people. </span><span class="v44_15_15"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.15" class="v44_15_15">15</span>This agrees with what the prophets wrote,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_15_16"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.16" class="v44_15_16">16</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.16!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> “I, the Lord, will return</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_15_16">and rebuild</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_15_16">David's fallen house.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_15_16">I will build it from its ruins</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_15_16">and set it up again.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_15_17"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.17" class="v44_15_17">17</span>Then other nations</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_15_17">will turn to me</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_15_17">and be my chosen ones.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v44_15_17">I, the Lord, say this.</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v44_15_18"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.18" class="v44_15_18">18</span>I promised it long ago.”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_19"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.19" class="v44_15_19">19</span>And so, my friends, I don't think we should place burdens on the Gentiles who are turning to God. </span><span class="v44_15_20"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.20" class="v44_15_20">20</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.20!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> 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.<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.20!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_21"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.21" class="v44_15_21">21</span>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.</span></p><h3 class="s1">A Letter to Gentiles Who Had Faith in the Lord</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_22"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.22" class="v44_15_22">22</span>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,<a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.22!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> who were two leaders of the Lord's followers. </span><span class="v44_15_23"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.23" class="v44_15_23">23</span>They wrote a letter that said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_23">We apostles and leaders send friendly greetings to all of you Gentiles who are followers of the Lord in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_24"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.24" class="v44_15_24">24</span>We have heard that some people from here have terribly upset you by what they said. But we did not send them! </span><span class="v44_15_25"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.25" class="v44_15_25">25</span>So we met together and decided to choose some men and to send them to you along with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. </span><span class="v44_15_26"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.26" class="v44_15_26">26</span>These men have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus Christ. </span><span class="v44_15_27"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.27" class="v44_15_27">27</span>We are also sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you in person the same things that we are writing.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_28"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.28" class="v44_15_28">28</span>The Holy Spirit has shown us that we should not place any extra burden on you. </span><span class="v44_15_29"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.29" class="v44_15_29">29</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.29!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> 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.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v44_15_29">We send our best wishes.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_30"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.30" class="v44_15_30">30</span>The four men left Jerusalem and went to Antioch. Then they called the church members together and gave them the letter. </span><span class="v44_15_31"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.31" class="v44_15_31">31</span>When the letter was read, everyone was pleased and greatly encouraged. </span><span class="v44_15_32"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.32" class="v44_15_32">32</span>Judas and Silas were prophets, and they spoke a long time, encouraging and helping the Lord's followers.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_33"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.33" class="v44_15_33">33</span>The men from Jerusalem stayed on in Antioch for a while. And when they left to return to the ones who had sent them, the followers wished them well. </span><span class="v44_15_34"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.34-Acts.15.35" class="v44_15_34">34-35</span>But Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached about the Lord.<a href="#Acts.15.34-Acts.15.35!f.1" id="link_Acts.15.34-Acts.15.35!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><h3 class="s1">Paul and Barnabas Go Their Separate Ways</h3><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_36"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.36" class="v44_15_36">36</span>Sometime later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the Lord's followers in the cities where we preached his message. Then we will know how they are doing.” </span><span class="v44_15_37"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.37" class="v44_15_37">37</span>Barnabas wanted to take along John, whose other name was Mark. </span><span class="v44_15_38"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.38" class="v44_15_38">38</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Acts.15.38!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But Paul did not want to, because Mark had left them in Pamphylia and had stopped working with them.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v44_15_39"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.39" class="v44_15_39">39</span>Paul and Barnabas argued, then each of them went his own way. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, </span><span class="v44_15_40"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.40" class="v44_15_40">40</span>but Paul took Silas and left after the followers had placed them in God's care. </span><span class="v44_15_41"><span class="reftext" id="Acts.15.41" class="v44_15_41">41</span>They traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.13 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">James: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Lord's brother.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.14 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Simon Peter: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Greek text has “Simeon,” which is another form of the name “Simon.” The apostle Peter is meant.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.20 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">not commit any terrible sexual sins: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">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.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.22 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Judas Barsabbas: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">He may have been a brother of Joseph Barsabbas (see 1.23), but the name “Barsabbas” was often used by the Jewish people.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">15.34,35 </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Verse 34, which says that Silas decided to stay on in Antioch, is not in some manuscripts.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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