1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can't be saved."

1 καί τινες κατελθόντες ἀπὸ τῆς ἰουδαίας ἐδίδασκον τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ περιτμηθῆτε τῶ ἔθει τῶ μωϊσέως, οὐ δύνασθε σωθῆναι.

2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

2 γενομένης δὲ στάσεως καὶ ζητήσεως οὐκ ὀλίγης τῶ παύλῳ καὶ τῶ βαρναβᾷ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἔταξαν ἀναβαίνειν παῦλον καὶ βαρναβᾶν καί τινας ἄλλους ἐξ αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ πρεσβυτέρους εἰς ἰερουσαλὴμ περὶ τοῦ ζητήματος τούτου.

3 They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}

3 οἱ μὲν οὗν προπεμφθέντες ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας διήρχοντο τήν τε φοινίκην καὶ σαμάρειαν ἐκδιηγούμενοι τὴν ἐπιστροφὴν τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ ἐποίουν χαρὰν μεγάλην πᾶσιν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς.

4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

4 παραγενόμενοι δὲ εἰς ἰερουσαλὴμ παρεδέχθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκκλησίας καὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων, ἀνήγγειλάν τε ὅσα ὁ θεὸς ἐποίησεν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν.

5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."

5 ἐξανέστησαν δέ τινες τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς αἱρέσεως τῶν φαρισαίων πεπιστευκότες, λέγοντες ὅτι δεῖ περιτέμνειν αὐτοὺς παραγγέλλειν τε τηρεῖν τὸν νόμον μωϊσέως.

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

6 συνήχθησάν τε οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἰδεῖν περὶ τοῦ λόγου τούτου.

7 When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe.

7 πολλῆς δὲ ζητήσεως γενομένης ἀναστὰς πέτρος εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ὑμεῖς ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἀφ᾽ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων ἐν ὑμῖν ἐξελέξατο ὁ θεὸς διὰ τοῦ στόματός μου ἀκοῦσαι τὰ ἔθνη τὸν λόγον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου καὶ πιστεῦσαι·

8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

8 καὶ ὁ καρδιογνώστης θεὸς ἐμαρτύρησεν αὐτοῖς δοὺς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καθὼς καὶ ἡμῖν,

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

9 καὶ οὐθὲν διέκρινεν μεταξὺ ἡμῶν τε καὶ αὐτῶν, τῇ πίστει καθαρίσας τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν.

10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

10 νῦν οὗν τί πειράζετε τὸν θεόν, ἐπιθεῖναι ζυγὸν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον τῶν μαθητῶν ὃν οὔτε οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν οὔτε ἡμεῖς ἰσχύσαμεν βαστάσαι;

11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,{TR adds "Christ"} just as they are."

11 ἀλλὰ διὰ τῆς χάριτος τοῦ κυρίου ἰησοῦ πιστεύομεν σωθῆναι καθ᾽ ὃν τρόπον κἀκεῖνοι.

12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

12 ἐσίγησεν δὲ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος, καὶ ἤκουον βαρναβᾶ καὶ παύλου ἐξηγουμένων ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ θεὸς σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν δι᾽ αὐτῶν.

13 After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.

13 μετὰ δὲ τὸ σιγῆσαι αὐτοὺς ἀπεκρίθη ἰάκωβος λέγων, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί, ἀκούσατέ μου.

14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

14 συμεὼν ἐξηγήσατο καθὼς πρῶτον ὁ θεὸς ἐπεσκέψατο λαβεῖν ἐξ ἐθνῶν λαὸν τῶ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.

15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

15 καὶ τούτῳ συμφωνοῦσιν οἱ λόγοι τῶν προφητῶν, καθὼς γέγραπται,

16 'After these things I will return. I will again build the tent of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up,

16 μετὰ ταῦτα ἀναστρέψω καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσω τὴν σκηνὴν δαυὶδ τὴν πεπτωκυῖαν, καὶ τὰ κατεσκαμμένα αὐτῆς ἀνοικοδομήσω καὶ ἀνορθώσω αὐτήν,

17 That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles who are called by my name, Says the Lord, who does all these things.

17 ὅπως ἂν ἐκζητήσωσιν οἱ κατάλοιποι τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὸν κύριον, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη ἐφ᾽ οὓς ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά μου ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς, λέγει κύριος ποιῶν ταῦτα

18 All his works are known to God from eternity.'

18 γνωστὰ ἀπ᾽ αἰῶνος.

19 "Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

19 διὸ ἐγὼ κρίνω μὴ παρενοχλεῖν τοῖς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν ἐπιστρέφουσιν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν,

20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

20 ἀλλὰ ἐπιστεῖλαι αὐτοῖς τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι τῶν ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων καὶ τῆς πορνείας καὶ τοῦ πνικτοῦ καὶ τοῦ αἵματος·

21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

21 μωϊσῆς γὰρ ἐκ γενεῶν ἀρχαίων κατὰ πόλιν τοὺς κηρύσσοντας αὐτὸν ἔχει ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς κατὰ πᾶν σάββατον ἀναγινωσκόμενος.

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}

22 τότε ἔδοξε τοῖς ἀποστόλοις καὶ τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις σὺν ὅλῃ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐκλεξαμένους ἄνδρας ἐξ αὐτῶν πέμψαι εἰς ἀντιόχειαν σὺν τῶ παύλῳ καὶ βαρναβᾷ, ἰούδαν τὸν καλούμενον βαρσαββᾶν καὶ σιλᾶν, ἄνδρας ἡγουμένους ἐν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς,

23 They wrote these things by their hand: "The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

23 γράψαντες διὰ χειρὸς αὐτῶν, οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἀδελφοὶ τοῖς κατὰ τὴν ἀντιόχειαν καὶ συρίαν καὶ κιλικίαν ἀδελφοῖς τοῖς ἐξ ἐθνῶν χαίρειν.

24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law,' to whom we gave no commandment;

24 ἐπειδὴ ἠκούσαμεν ὅτι τινὲς ἐξ ἡμῶν [ἐξελθόντες] ἐτάραξαν ὑμᾶς λόγοις ἀνασκευάζοντες τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν, οἷς οὐ διεστειλάμεθα,

25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

25 ἔδοξεν ἡμῖν γενομένοις ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐκλεξαμένοις ἄνδρας πέμψαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς σὺν τοῖς ἀγαπητοῖς ἡμῶν βαρναβᾷ καὶ παύλῳ,

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

26 ἀνθρώποις παραδεδωκόσι τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ.

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

27 ἀπεστάλκαμεν οὗν ἰούδαν καὶ σιλᾶν, καὶ αὐτοὺς διὰ λόγου ἀπαγγέλλοντας τὰ αὐτά.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:

28 ἔδοξεν γὰρ τῶ πνεύματι τῶ ἁγίῳ καὶ ἡμῖν μηδὲν πλέον ἐπιτίθεσθαι ὑμῖν βάρος πλὴν τούτων τῶν ἐπάναγκες,

29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell."

29 ἀπέχεσθαι εἰδωλοθύτων καὶ αἵματος καὶ πνικτῶν καὶ πορνείας· ἐξ ὧν διατηροῦντες ἑαυτοὺς εὗ πράξετε. ἔρρωσθε.

30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

30 οἱ μὲν οὗν ἀπολυθέντες κατῆλθον εἰς ἀντιόχειαν, καὶ συναγαγόντες τὸ πλῆθος ἐπέδωκαν τὴν ἐπιστολήν·

31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.

31 ἀναγνόντες δὲ ἐχάρησαν ἐπὶ τῇ παρακλήσει.

32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words, and strengthened them.

32 ἰούδας τε καὶ σιλᾶς, καὶ αὐτοὶ προφῆται ὄντες, διὰ λόγου πολλοῦ παρεκάλεσαν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς καὶ ἐπεστήριξαν·

33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent back with greetings from the brothers to the apostles.

33 ποιήσαντες δὲ χρόνον ἀπελύθησαν μετ᾽ εἰρήνης ἀπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστείλαντας αὐτούς.

34 {Some manuscripts add: But it seemed good to Silas to stay there.}

34

35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

35 παῦλος δὲ καὶ βαρναβᾶς διέτριβον ἐν ἀντιοχείᾳ διδάσκοντες καὶ εὐαγγελιζόμενοι μετὰ καὶ ἑτέρων πολλῶν τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου.

36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing."

36 μετὰ δέ τινας ἡμέρας εἶπεν πρὸς βαρναβᾶν παῦλος, ἐπιστρέψαντες δὴ ἐπισκεψώμεθα τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς κατὰ πόλιν πᾶσαν ἐν αἷς κατηγγείλαμεν τὸν λόγον τοῦ κυρίου, πῶς ἔχουσιν.

37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.

37 βαρναβᾶς δὲ ἐβούλετο συμπαραλαβεῖν καὶ τὸν ἰωάννην τὸν καλούμενον μᾶρκον·

38 But Paul didn't think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn't go with them to do the work.

38 παῦλος δὲ ἠξίου τὸν ἀποστάντα ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἀπὸ παμφυλίας καὶ μὴ συνελθόντα αὐτοῖς εἰς τὸ ἔργον μὴ συμπαραλαμβάνειν τοῦτον.

39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away to Cyprus,

39 ἐγένετο δὲ παροξυσμὸς ὥστε ἀποχωρισθῆναι αὐτοὺς ἀπ᾽ ἀλλήλων, τόν τε βαρναβᾶν παραλαβόντα τὸν μᾶρκον ἐκπλεῦσαι εἰς κύπρον.

40 but Paul chose Silas, and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.

40 παῦλος δὲ ἐπιλεξάμενος σιλᾶν ἐξῆλθεν παραδοθεὶς τῇ χάριτι τοῦ κυρίου ὑπὸ τῶν ἀδελφῶν,

41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

41 διήρχετο δὲ τὴν συρίαν καὶ [τὴν] κιλικίαν ἐπιστηρίζων τὰς ἐκκλησίας.