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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 NLT</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" /></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="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</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"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/acts/15.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">The Council at Jerusalem</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a>: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Peter<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a> has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:</p><p class="b"/><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>‘Afterward I will return</p><p class="line2">and restore the fallen house<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a> of David.</p><p class="line1">I will rebuild its ruins</p><p class="line2">and restore it,</p><p class="line1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>so that the rest of humanity might seek the LORD,</p><p class="line2">including the Gentiles—</p><p class="line2">all those I have called to be mine.</p><p class="line1">The LORD has spoken—</p><p class="line2"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>he who made these things known so long ago.’<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a></p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”</p><p class="hdg">The Letter for Gentile Believers</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>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<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">f</span></a>—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>This is the letter they took with them:</p><p class="b"/><p class="pmo">“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!</p><p class="pm"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.</p><p class="pm"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>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.”</p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">g</span></a> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.</p><p class="hdg">Paul and Barnabas Separate</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/acts/15-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:1 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">brothers;</span><span class="ft"> also in 15:3, 23, 32, 33, 36, 40.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:10 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">disciples.</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:14 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">Simeon.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:16 </span><span class="ft">Or </span><span class="it">kingdom;</span><span class="ft"> Greek reads </span><span class="it">tent.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:16-18 </span><span class="ft">Amos 9:11-12 (Greek version); Isa 45:21.</span><br><span class="fn">f</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:22 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="it">were leaders among the brothers.</span><br><span class="fn">g</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">15:33 </span><span class="ft">Some manuscripts add verse 34, </span><span class="it">But Silas decided to stay there.</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of <a href="http://www.tyndale.com">Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.</a>, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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