1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers,*15:1 The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings." "Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved." 2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. 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. 4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything 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."

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. 7 When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 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? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,*15:11 TR adds "Christ" just as they are."

12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them. 13 After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

16 ‘After these things I will return.

I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.

I will again build its ruins.

I will set it up 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.’✝15:17 Amos 9:11-12

18 "All of God’s works are known to him from eternity. 19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 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. 21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

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.*15:22 The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings." 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. 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; 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, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: 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."

30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. 33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles. 34 *15:34 Some manuscripts add: But it seemed good to Silas to stay there. 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

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." 37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. 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. 39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.

1 Mõned mehed tulid Juudamaalt alla Antiookiasse ja õpetasid vendi: „Kui te ei lase endid Moosese kombe kohaselt ümber lõigata, siis te ei saa päästetud." 2 Sellest tõusis tüli ning Paulusel ja Barnabasel oli nendega suur vaidlus. Siis määrati nii, et Paulus ja Barnabas lähevad koos mõne teise usklikuga Jeruusalemma selles asjas apostlite ja vanematega kohtuma. 3 Kogudus saatis nad teele ja kui nad reisisid läbi Foiniikia ja Samaaria, jutustasid nad üksikasjalikult, kuidas mittejuudid olid pöördunud. See sõnum rõõmustas vendi väga. 4 Ja kui nad Jeruusalemma saabusid, võtsid kogudus, apostlid ja vanemad nad südamlikult vastu, kellele nad andsid teada kõigest, mis Jumal oli nende läbi teinud.

5 Siis mõned variseride hulgast, kes olid saanud usklikuks, tõusid püsti ja ütlesid: „Neid tuleb ümber lõigata ja nõuda Moosese Seaduse pidamist."

6 Apostlid ja vanemad tulid kokku asja arutama. 7 Pärast pikka vaidlust tõusis Peetrus püsti ja ütles: „Vennad, te teate, et mõni aeg tagasi tegi Jumal teie hulgas valiku, et minu suu läbi kuuleksid teised rahvad evangeeliumi sõna ja usuksid. 8 Ja südametundja Jumal näitas, et ta on nad vastu võtnud, andes neile Püha Vaimu nagu meilegi. 9 Ta ei ole teinud vahet meie ja nende vahel, sest ta puhastas usu läbi nende südamed. 10 Mispärast te nüüd kiusate Jumalat, soovides panna jüngrite kaela iket, mida ei ole suutnud kanda ei meie isad ega meie? 11 Ent meie usume, et me oleme Issanda Jeesuse armu läbi päästetud samal kombel nagu nemadki!"

12 Kogudus jäi vaikseks, kui nad kuulasid, kuidas Barnabas ja Paulus jutustasid imelistest tunnustähtedest ja imedest, mida Jumal oli teinud rahvaste hulgas nende läbi. 13 Kui nad olid jutu lõpetanud, võttis Jakoobus sõna: „Vennad, kuulake mind! 14 Siimon on meile selgitanud, kuidas Jumal esmalt võttis eesmärgiks valida oma nimele rahvast paganate hulgast. 15 Sellega lähevad kokku prohvetite sõnad, nagu on kirjutatud:

16 „Pärast seda ma tulen tagasi

ja ehitan üles Taaveti langenud telgi.

Ja ehitan üles selle varemed

ja taastan selle uuesti,

17 et muudki inimesed otsiksid Issandat

ja kõik rahvad, kelle üle on nimetatud minu nimi,

ütleb Issand, kes teeb seda,

18 mis on teada igavikust alates."

19 Seepärast otsustan mina, et me ei teeks seda raskeks neile, kes teiste rahvaste seast pöörduvad Jumala poole. 20 Vaid selle asemel kirjutaksime neile, et nad hoiduksid ebajumalate ohvrilihast, sugukõlvatusest, lämbunud loomade lihast ja verest. 21 Sest Moosest on ammustest aegadest alates kuulutatud igas linnas ning loetud igal hingamispäeval sünagoogides."

22 Siis apostlid ja vanemad ühes kogudusega otsustasid valida endi hulgast mõned mehed ja saata need Antiookiasse koos Barnabase ja Paulusega. Nad valisid Juudase (Barsabaseks kutsutu) ja Siilase, kaks meest, kes mõlemad olid juhid vendade hulgas.

23 Nendega nad saatsid järgmise kirja:

Apostlid ja vanemad, teie vennad,

Teiste rahvaste päritolu vendadele ja õdedele, kes elavad Antiookias, Süürias ja Kiliikias:

Tervitused.

24 Me oleme kuulnud, et mõned meie hulgast on välja läinud ilma meie heakskiiduta ja oma kõnedega teid segadusse ajanud ja teie hinge rahutuks teinud. 25 Nõnda me oleme otsustanud valida mõned mehed ja saata need teie juurde koos meie kallite sõprade Barnabase ja Paulusega, 26 meestega, kes on pannud oma elu kaalule meie Issanda Jeesuse Kristuse nime pärast. 27 Seepärast me läkitasime Juudase ja Siilase kinnitama suusõnal seda, mida me kirjutame. 28 Sest Püha Vaim ja meie oleme arvanud heaks, et teid ei tohi koormata millegagi peale nende nõudmiste: 29 te peate hoiduma ebajumalate ohvrilihast, verest, lämbunud loomade lihast ja sugukõlvatusest. Te teete hästi, kui te neist hoidute.

Jumalaga!

30 Nii nad saadeti teele ja nad tulid alla Antiookiasse, kutsusid kokku koguduse ja andsid kirja üle. 31 Kui nad seda olid lugenud, said nad rõõmsaks selle julgustava sõnumi üle. 32 Juudas ja Siilas, kes ka ise olid prohvetid, julgustasid usklikke mitmete sõnadega ja kinnitasid neid. 33 Aga kui nad seal olid mõnda aega viibinud, saatsid usklikud nad rahu õnnistustega minema nende juurde, kes neid olid läkitanud. 34 Ja see tundus hea, et Siilas jääb sinna. 35 Aga Paulus ja Barnabas jäid Antiookiasse, õpetades ja kuulutades Issanda sõna.

36 Mõni aeg hiljem ütles Paulus Barnabasele: „Lähme jälle vaatama usklikke kõikides linnades, kus me oleme kuulutanud Issanda sõna, kuidas neil läheb." 37 Barnabas tahtis võtta kaasa ka Johannese, keda kutsutakse Markuseks, 38 aga Paulus ei pidanud seda õigeks, sest ta oli neid Pamfüülias maha jätnud ega olnud ühes nendega läinud tööle. 39 Sellest tekkis äge vaidlus, nii et nad läksid lahku ning Barnabas võttis kaasa Markuse ja purjetas Küprosele. 40 Paulus valis aga Siilase ja läks teele, jättes usklikud Issanda armu hooleks. 41 Ta käis läbi Süüria ja Kiliikia, kinnitades kogudusi.