Thematic Bible




Acts 15:1 (show verse)

And some men came down from Judea [and] began teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom [prescribed] by Moses, you cannot be saved."

Acts 15:2 (show verse)

And [after] there was no little strife and debate by Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this issue.

Acts 15:3 (show verse)

So they were sent on their way by the church, [and] passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

Acts 15:4 (show verse)

And [when they] arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them.

Acts 15:5 (show verse)

But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command [them] to observe the law of Moses!"

Acts 15:6 (show verse)

Both the apostles and the elders assembled to deliberate concerning this matter.

Acts 15:7 (show verse)

And [after] there was much debate, Peter stood up [and] said to them, "Men [and] brothers, you know that in the early days God chose among you through my mouth [that] the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:8 (show verse)

And God, who knows the heart, testified to them [by] giving [them] the Holy Spirit, just as he also [did] to us.

Acts 15:9 (show verse)

And he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:10 (show verse)

So now why are you putting God to the test [by] placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Acts 15:11 (show verse)

But we believe [we] will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus in {the same} way those also [are]."

Acts 15:12 (show verse)

And the whole group became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

Acts 15:13 (show verse)

And after they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, "Men [and] brothers, listen to me!

Acts 15:14 (show verse)

Simeon has described how God first concerned himself to take from among the Gentiles a people for his name.

Acts 15:15 (show verse)

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

Acts 15:16 (show verse)

'After these [things] I will return and build up again the tent of David that has fallen, and the [parts] of it that had been torn down I will build up again and will restore it,

Acts 15:17 (show verse)

so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles {who are called by my name}, says the Lord, who makes these [things]

Acts 15:18 (show verse)

known from of old.'

Acts 15:19 (show verse)

Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

Acts 15:20 (show verse)

but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.

Acts 15:21 (show verse)

For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, [because he] is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath."

Acts 15:22 (show verse)

Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men [who were] leaders among the brothers--

Acts 15:23 (show verse)

writing [this letter] {to be delivered by them}: The apostles and the elders, brothers. To the brothers [who are] from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Greetings!

Acts 15:24 (show verse)

Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us--to whom we gave no orders--[and] have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your {minds},

Acts 15:25 (show verse)

it seemed best to us, {having reached a unanimous decision}, [and] having chosen men, to send [them] to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,

Acts 15:26 (show verse)

men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:27 (show verse)

Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same [things] by word of mouth.

Acts 15:28 (show verse)

For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things:

Acts 15:29 (show verse)

[that you] abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. [If you] keep yourselves from {these things} you will do well. Farewell.

Acts 15:30 (show verse)

So [when] they were sent off, they came down to Antioch, and [after] calling together the community, they delivered the letter.

Acts 15:31 (show verse)

And [when they] read [it] aloud, they rejoiced at the encouragement.

Acts 15:32 (show verse)

Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers by a long message.

Acts 15:33 (show verse)

And [after] spending [some] time, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.

Acts 15:34 (show verse)

Acts 15:35 (show verse)

But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord with many others also.

Acts 15:36 (show verse)

And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, "Come then,[let us] return [and] visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [to see] how they are [doing]."

Acts 15:37 (show verse)

Now Barnabas wanted to take John who was called Mark along also,

Acts 15:38 (show verse)

but Paul held the opinion they should not take this one along, who departed from them in Pamphylia and did not accompany them in the work.

Acts 15:39 (show verse)

And a sharp disagreement took place, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took along Mark [and] sailed away to Cyprus,

Acts 15:40 (show verse)

but Paul chose Silas [and] departed, [after] being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers.

Acts 15:41 (show verse)

And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.