Acts 15

Men from Judaea insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved, so Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem for the apostles and elders to settle the matter. James declared that Gentiles should not be burdened with the law beyond a few necessary things, and the council sent a letter confirming this decision. Paul and Barnabas parted ways over John Mark, with Barnabas sailing to Cyprus and Paul choosing Silas for his second journey.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.	Some men came down from Judaea and began teaching the brothers. They said, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
2	When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.	Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed and debated with these men. It was decided that Paul and Barnabas, along with some others, should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
3	And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.	Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria. They reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and this brought great joy to all the brothers.
4	And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.	When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.
5	But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.	But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and commanded to keep the law of Moses."
6	And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.	The apostles and elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7	And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.	After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a long time ago God chose among us that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8	And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;	God, Who knows the heart, confirmed this by giving them the Holy Ghost, just as He did to us.
9	And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.	He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10	Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?	So why do You put God to the test by placing on the disciples a burden that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11	But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.	We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved, just as they are."
12	Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.	The whole crowd became silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they described the miracles and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13	And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:	When they finished speaking, James said, "Brothers, listen to me.
14	Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.	Simeon has described how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for His name.
15	And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,	This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written:
16	After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:	'After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,
17	That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.	so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord — all the Gentiles on whom My name is called,' says the Lord, who does all these things.
18	Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.	God has known all His works from the beginning of the world.
19	Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:	Therefore my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20	But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.	Instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things that are strangled, and from blood.
21	For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.	For from ancient generations Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city. He is read in the synagogues every Sabbath day."
22	Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:	Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas — Judas called Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers.
23	And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:	They wrote a letter by their hand which said: "The apostles and elders and brothers, to the brothers of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
24	Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:	Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words and unsettled your souls — saying you must be circumcised and keep the law — we gave them no such instruction.
25	It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,	So it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26	Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.	men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27	We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.	We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things to you by word of mouth.
28	For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;	It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us to place no greater burden on You than these necessary things:
29	That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.	Abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If You keep yourselves from these, You will do well. Farewell."
30	So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:	When the men were sent off, they went to Antioch. Gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31	Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.	When the people read it, they rejoiced at the encouragement it gave.
32	And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.	Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
33	And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.	After they had stayed there for some time, the brothers sent them off in peace to the apostles.
34	Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.	But Silas chose to remain there.
35	Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.	Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, along with many others.
36	And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.	Some days later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in every city where we preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing."
37	And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.	Barnabas wanted to take with them John, who was called Mark.
38	But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.	Paul did not think it wise to take him, since he had left them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
39	And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;	There was such a sharp disagreement between them that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
40	And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.	Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
41	And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.	He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.