15:1And certain men coming down from Judea were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." 15:2So when no small dissension had arisen for Paul and Barnabas against them, they decided that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the rest, should go up to the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question. 15:3They, therefore, escorted by the church, were passing through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling of the conversion of the Gentiles: and they were causing great joy to all the brothers. 15:4And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the Apostles and elders, announcing how great things God had done with them.
15:5But there rose up certain men from the sect of the Pharisees, who had believed, saying that they must be circumcised, and that they must be commanded also to keep the law of Moses. 15:6And the Apostles and elders came together to see about this matter. 15:7And when a great inquiry was taking place, Peter, rising, said to them: "Men, brothers, you know that from ancient days God made a choice among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. 15:8And God, who knows hearts, bore witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as also to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
15:10Now, therefore, why do you test God, to put upon the necks of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to carry? 15:11But through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we believe that we are saved, in the same way as they also." 15:12And the whole multitude was silent: and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul telling how great signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 15:13And after they had fallen silent, James answered, saying: "Men, brothers, listen to me. 15:14Simon has told how God first visited them, to take from the Gentiles a people for his name.
15:15And with this the words of the prophets agree: as it has been written: [After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tent of David which has fallen: and its ruins I will rebuild, and I will set it up: so that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the nations upon whom my name has been invoked, says the Lord who does these things. 15:18Known from the age to the Lord is his work.] For which reason I judge that those who from the Gentiles are turning to God are not to be troubled, but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
15:21For Moses from ancient times has in every city those who preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath." 15:22Then it pleased the Apostles and elders with the whole church to choose men from among them, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, who was surnamed Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers: writing by their hands: "The Apostles and elders, brothers, to those who are at Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brothers from the Gentiles, greeting. 15:24Since we have heard that certain men going out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, to whom we gave no command, it has pleased us, gathered together as one, to choose men, and to send them to you with our dearest Barnabas and Paul, men who have handed over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:27We have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, who themselves also will report the same things to you by word. 15:28For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose no further burden upon you than these necessary things: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication: keeping yourselves from these, you will do well. 15:29Farewell." 15:30They, therefore, having been sent off, went down to Antioch: and the multitude having been gathered, they delivered the letter. 15:31And when they had read it, they rejoiced over the consolation. 15:32And Judas and Silas, since they themselves too were prophets, consoled the brothers with very much speech, and strengthened them.
15:33And some time having been spent there, they were sent off with peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 15:34But it seemed good to Silas to remain there: and Judas went away alone to Jerusalem. 15:35But Paul and Barnabas were staying at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord. 15:36And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: "Going back, let us visit the brothers through all the cities in which we have preached the word of the Lord, how they are." 15:37But Barnabas wished to take with him John also, who was surnamed Mark. 15:38But Paul was asking him (since he had departed from them from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work) that he ought not to be taken back.
15:39And a disagreement arose, so that they parted from one another, and Barnabas indeed, having taken Mark, sailed to Cyprus. 15:40But Paul, having chosen Silas, set out, handed over to the grace of God by the brothers. 15:41And he was walking through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches: commanding them to keep the precepts of the Apostles and elders.