Acts

The Dispute over Circumcision

1Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

The Council at Jerusalem

5But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

6So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

7After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

8And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

9He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

10Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

11On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

14Simonhas told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

15The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

16‘After this I will return and rebuildthe fallen tent of David.Its ruins I will rebuild,and I will restore it,

17so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,says the Lord who does these things

18that have been known for ages.’

19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

20Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

21For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

The Letter to the Gentile Believers

22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

25So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:

29You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

The Believers at Antioch Rejoice

30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.

31When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.

34Diese Übersetzung enthält diese Passage nicht.

35But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.

38But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

39Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

41And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

1And certain having come down from Judea, were teaching the brethren — 'If ye be not circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye are not able to be saved;'

2there having been, therefore, not a little dissension and disputation to Paul and Barnabas with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up unto the apostles and elders to Jerusalem about this question,

3they indeed, then, having been sent forward by the assembly, were passing through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brethren.

4And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, they declared also as many things as God did with them;

5and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying — 'It behoveth to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the law of Moses.'

6And there were gathered together the apostles and the elders, to see about this matter,

7and there having been much disputing, Peter having risen up said unto them, 'Men, brethren, ye know that from former days, God among us did make choice, through my mouth, for the nations to hear the word of the good news, and to believe;

8and the heart-knowing God did bare them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us,

9and did put no difference also between us and them, by the faith having purified their hearts;

10now, therefore, why do ye tempt God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11but, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.'

12And all the multitude did keep silence, and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul, declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them;

13and after they are silent, James answered, saying, 'Men, brethren, hearken to me;

14Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name,

15and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written:

16After these things I will turn back, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and its ruins I will build again, and will set it upright —

17that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name hath been called, saith the Lord, who is doing all these things.

18'Known from the ages to God are all His works;

19wherefore I judge: not to trouble those who from the nations do turn back to God,

20but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;

21for Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him — in the synagogues every sabbath being read.'

22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, chosen men out of themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas — Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren —

23having written through their hand thus: 'The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brethren, who [are] of the nations, greeting;

24seeing we have heard that certain having gone forth from us did trouble you with words, subverting your souls, saying to be circumcised and to keep the law, to whom we did give no charge,

25it seemed good to us, having come together with one accord, chosen men to send unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul —

26men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ —

27we have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they by word are telling the same things.

28'For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things:

29to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well; be strong!'

30They then, indeed, having been let go, went to Antioch, and having brought the multitude together, did deliver the epistle,

31and they having read, did rejoice for the consolation;

32Judas also and Silas, being themselves also prophets, through much discourse did exhort the brethren, and confirm,

33and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brethren unto the apostles;

34and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.

35And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news — with many others also — the word of the Lord;

36and after certain days, Paul said unto Barnabas, 'Having turned back again, we may look after our brethren, in every city in which we have preached the word of the Lord — how they are.'

37And Barnabas counselled to take with [them] John called Mark,

38and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work;

39there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, did sail to Cyprus,

40and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brethren;

41and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.