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Acts 15 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
<!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=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>Acts 15 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</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="/bmcc/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/catholic">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NRSVCE</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 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition</td><td width="1%" valign="top"></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><div class="text-html"> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Council at Jerusalem</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><span class="text"><span class="versenum">1</span>Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">2</span>And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">3</span>So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31706a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">4</span>When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">5</span>But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">6</span>The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">7</span>After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers,<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31710b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">8</span>And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">9</span>and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">10</span>Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">11</span>On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">12</span>The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">13</span>After they finished speaking, James replied, “My brothers,<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31716c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> listen to me. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">14</span>Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">15</span>This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,</span></p> <div class="poetry"><p class="line"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">16</span>‘After this I will return,</span><br /><span class="text">and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">from its ruins I will rebuild it,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-2"><span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">and I will set it up,</span></span><br /><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">17</span>so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text">even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.</span></span><br /><span class="indent-2"><span class="indent-2-breaks"> </span><span class="text">Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum mid-line">18</span>known from long ago.’<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31721d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote d">d</a>]</span></span></span></p></div> <p class="first-line-none"><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">19</span>Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">20</span>but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31723e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote e">e</a>]</span> and from blood. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">21</span>For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.”</span></p> <h3><span id="en" class="text">The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers</span></h3><p><span class="text"><span class="versenum">22</span>Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31725f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote f">f</a>]</span> and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">23</span>with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31726g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote g">g</a>]</span> of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">24</span>Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds,<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31727h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote h">h</a>]</span> </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">25</span>we have decided unanimously to choose representatives<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31728i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote i">i</a>]</span> and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">26</span>who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">27</span>We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">28</span>For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">29</span>that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31732j" title="See footnote j">j</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote j">j</a>]</span> and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”</span></p> <p><span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">30</span>So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">31</span>When its members<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31734k" title="See footnote k">k</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote k">k</a>]</span> read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">32</span>Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31735l" title="See footnote l">l</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote l">l</a>]</span> </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">33</span>After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31736m" title="See footnote m">m</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote m">m</a>]</span> to those who had sent them.<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31736n" title="See footnote n">n</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote n">n</a>]</span> </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">35</span>But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.</span></p> <h3><span id="en" class="text">Paul and Barnabas Separate</span></h3><p><span class="text"><span class="versenum">36</span>After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the believers<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31738o" title="See footnote o">o</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote o">o</a>]</span> in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">37</span>Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">38</span>But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">39</span>The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">40</span>But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers<span data-fn='#fen' class='footnote' data-link='[<a href="#fen-NRSVCE-31742p" title="See footnote p">p</a>]'>[<a href="#fen" xtitle="See footnote p">p</a>]</span> commending him to the grace of the Lord. </span> <span id="en" class="text"><span class="versenum">41</span>He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.</span></p> <A name="fen"></a><div class="footnotes"><h4>Footnotes</h4><ol><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:3">Acts 15:3</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:7">Acts 15:7</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>Men, brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:13">Acts 15:13</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>Men, brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:18">Acts 15:18</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Other ancient authorities read <i>things. <span class="versenum mid-line">18</span>Known to God from of old are all his works.’</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:20">Acts 15:20</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Other ancient authorities lack <i>and from whatever has been strangled</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:22">Acts 15:22</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>from among them</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:23">Acts 15:23</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:24">Acts 15:24</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Other ancient authorities add <i>saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:25">Acts 15:25</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>men</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:29">Acts 15:29</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Other ancient authorities lack <i>and from what is strangled</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:31">Acts 15:31</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>When they</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:32">Acts 15:32</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:33">Acts 15:33</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:33">Acts 15:33</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Other ancient authorities add verse 34, <i>But it seemed good to Silas to remain there</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:36">Acts 15:36</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>brothers</i></span></li><li id="fen"><a hlef="#en" xtitle="Go to Acts 15:40">Acts 15:40</a> <span class='footnote-text'>Gk <i>brothers</i></span></li></ol></div> <!--end of footnotes--></div></div></div></div></div> </div> </div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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