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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://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 Amplified Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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<span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith [in Jesus]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Now then, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to endure? <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>All the people remained silent, and they listened [attentively] to Barnabas and Paul as they described all the signs and wonders (attesting miracles) that God had done through them among the Gentiles. <p class="hdg">James’ Judgment</p><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>When they had finished speaking, <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[b]</a></span>James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span><span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[c]</a></span>Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written [in Scripture], <poetry><p class="indent1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, <t><p class="indent1">AND I WILL REBUILD THE TENT OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN; <t><p class="indent1">I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, <t><p class="indent1">AND I WILL RESTORE IT, <poetry><p class="indent1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, <t><p class="indent1">AND ALL THE GENTILES UPON WHOM MY NAME HAS BEEN INVOKED,’ <poetry><p class="indent1"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>SAYS THE LORD, <t><p class="indent1">WHO HAS BEEN MAKING THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO. <A><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble <i>and</i> make it difficult for those who are turning to God among the Gentiles [by putting obstacles in their way], <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>but that we write to them that they are to abstain from <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[d]</a></span>anything that has been contaminated by [being offered to] idols and from sexual impurity and from [eating the meat of] what has been strangled and from [the consumption of] <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[e]</a></span>blood. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>For from ancient generations [the writing of] Moses has been preached in every city, since <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[f]</a></span>he is read <i>aloud</i> in the synagogues every Sabbath.” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their men to go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas [also called Silvanus, both], leading men among the brothers. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>With them they sent the following letter: <p class="tab1stline">“The apostles and the brothers who are the elders, to the brothers and sisters who are from the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, Greetings. <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span><p class="tab1">Since we have heard that some of our men have troubled you with <i>their</i> teachings, causing distress <i>and</i> confusion--men to whom we gave no <i>such</i> orders <i>or</i> instructions-- <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span><p class="tab1">it has been decided by us, having met together, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span><p class="tab1">men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span><p class="tab1">So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report by word of mouth the same things [that we decided in our meeting]. <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span><p class="tab1">For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials: <poetry><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span><p class="tab1">that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from [consuming] blood, and from [eating the meat of] things that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.” <p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and after assembling the congregation, they delivered the letter. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>And when they had read it, the people rejoiced greatly at the encouragement <i>and</i> comfort [it brought them]. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets (divinely inspired spokesmen), encouraged and strengthened the <span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[g]</a></span>believers with many words. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>After spending some time there, they were sent back by the brothers with [the greeting of] peace to those who had sent them. 34<span class="fn"><a href="#fn">[h]</a></span>[However, Silas decided to stay there.] <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and with many others also continued teaching and proclaiming the good news, the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ]. <p class="hdg">Paul’s Second Missionary Journey</p><p class="paragraph"><span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers and sisters (believers) in every city where we preached the message of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Now Barnabas wanted to take [his cousin] John, who was called Mark, along with them. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>But Paul kept insisting that they should not take along with them the one who had quit <i>and</i> deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>And it became such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took [John] Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>But Paul chose Silas [who was again in Antioch] and set out [on his second journey], commended by the brothers to the grace <i>and</i> favor of the Lord. <span class="reftext"><a href="/acts/15-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.<A name="fn"></a></p><br /><br /><span class="footnotesbot">[a]</span> <span class="fnverse">3</span> Lit <i>brethren</i>.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[b]</span> <span class="fnverse">13</span> Jesus’ half brother, James, was leader of the church in Jerusalem.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[c]</span> <span class="fnverse">14</span> This Greek transliteration of Peter’s Hebrew name is also used in 2 Pet 1:1.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[d]</span> <span class="fnverse">20</span> Lit <i>the pollutions of idols</i>.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[e]</span> <span class="fnverse">20</span> For the OT prohibition against eating blood, and the reasons for it, see Lev 17:10-14. There, in v 13, hunters are instructed to pour out the blood of an animal before eating it.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[f]</span> <span class="fnverse">21</span> I.e. the first five books of the OT, Gen through Deut.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[g]</span> <span class="fnverse">32</span> Lit <i>brethren</i>.<br><span class="footnotesbot">[h]</span> <span class="fnverse">34</span> Early mss do not contain this v.<br></div><br /><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Amplified Bible Copyright © 2015<br>by The Lockman Foundation<br>All rights reserved <a href="http://www.lockman.org">www.lockman.org</a><br><br><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br>                                                                                                                                <span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../acts/14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../acts/16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div align="center"><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>