Conflict over Circumcision
1 And acertain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, b“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that aPaul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
3 So, abeing sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, bdescribing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
The Jerusalem Council
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: a“Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8 So God, awho knows the heart, acknowledged them by bgiving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
9 aand made no distinction between us and them, bpurifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore, why do you test God aby putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But awe believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus1 Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had aworked through them among the Gentiles.
13 And after they had1 become silent, aJames answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 aSimon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 ‘Aftera this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the1 Lord who does all these things.’
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the1 Lord who does all these things.’
18 1“Known to God from eternity are all His works.
19 Therefore aI judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who bare turning to God,
20 but that we awrite to them to abstain bfrom things polluted by idols, cfrom sexual immorality, dfrom things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, abeing read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
The Jerusalem Decree
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named aBarsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Commentaries:
No entry exists in John Wesley's Notes for Acts 15:1.
| << Acts 14:28 | Acts 15:2 >> |
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
Join 137,344+ readers
A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.