Acts

1And some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.

2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the other side, should go up to the apostles and priests to Jerusalem about this question.

3They therefore being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them.

5But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.

6And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter.

7And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us;

9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

11But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.

12And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.

14Simon hath related how God first visited to take of the Gentiles a people to his name.

15And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

16After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:

17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.

18To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.

19For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.

20But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.

22Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.

23Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

24Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment:

25It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:

26Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.

28For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:

29That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.

30They therefore being dismissed, went down to Antioch; and gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.

31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32But Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, with many words comforted the brethren, and confirmed them.

33And after they had spent some time there, they were let go with peace by the brethren, unto them that had sent them.

34But it seemed good unto Silas to remain there; and Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.

35And Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord.

36And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and visit our brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they do.

37And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark;

38But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of Pamphylia, and not gone with them to the work) might not be received.

39And there arose a dissension, so that they departed one from another; and Barnabas indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

40But Paul choosing Silas, departed, being delivered by the brethren to the grace of God.

41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.

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.