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Acts 15:13-34

Acts 15

¹³ After they finished speaking, James responded, “Gentlemen, brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴ Simon has reported how God for the first time has visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. ¹⁵ The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

¹⁸ “Long ago he made these things known. ¹⁹ So it is my judgment that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write a letter telling them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For from ancient times Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, since he is being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

²² Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, thought it would be best to choose men from their group to send to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leading men among the brothers.

²³ They wrote this letter for them to deliver:

To the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

²⁴ We heard that there were some who came from us without our authorization and caused you distress by unsettling your minds with what they said. ^{[2] 25} So it seemed best to us, since we are of one mind, to choose some men to send to you, along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report these same things by word of mouth. ²⁸ For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to put no greater burden on you than these essentials: ²⁹ You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully avoid these things, you will do well.

Farewell.

³⁰ After they were sent on their way, they went down to Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. ³¹ The people read it and rejoiced over its encouraging message. ³² Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, also said much that encouraged and strengthened the brothers. ³³ After they had spent some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the greeting of peace to those who had sent them. ^[3]