The Dispute over Circumcision 2 UEB This brought Paul and Barnabas into a sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas along with some others from among them were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders about this question. BSB BSB: And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3 UEB They therefore, being sent by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria and announced the conversion of the Gentiles. They brought great joy to all the brothers. BSB BSB: Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
4 UEB When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things that God had done with them. BSB BSB: On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
The Council at Jerusalem (Amos 9:11–15; Galatians 2:1–10)
5 UEB But certain men who believed, who belonged to the group of Pharisees, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses." BSB BSB: But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”
6 UEB So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter. BSB BSB: So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
7 UEB After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. BSB BSB: After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.
8 UEB God, who knows the heart, witnesses to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; BSB BSB: And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
9 UEB and he made no distinction between us and them, making their hearts clean by faith. BSB BSB: He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
10 UEB Now therefore why do you test God, that you should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? BSB BSB: Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11 UEB But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they were." BSB BSB: On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
12 UEB All the multitude kept silent while they listened to Barnabas and Paul report the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. BSB BSB: The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
14 UEB Simon has told how God first graciously helped the Gentiles in order to take from them a people for his name. BSB BSB: Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
15 UEB The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, BSB BSB: The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
16 UEB 'After these things I will return, and I will build again the tent of David, which has fallen down; I will set up and restore its ruins again, BSB BSB: ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
17 UEB so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, including all the Gentiles called by my name.' BSB BSB: so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things
18 UEB This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times. BSB BSB: that have been known for ages.’
20 UEB But we will write to them that they must keep away from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. BSB BSB: Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
The Letter to the Gentile Believers 22 UEB Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders of the church, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. BSB BSB: Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
23 UEB They wrote this: "From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings! BSB BSB: and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 UEB We have heard that certain men have gone out from us, with no orders from us, and have disturbed you with teachings that upset your souls. BSB BSB: It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
25 UEB This being so, all of us have agreed to choose men and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, BSB BSB: So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 UEB men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 UEB Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same thing themselves in their own words. BSB BSB: Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
29 UEB that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, it shall be well with you. Farewell." BSB BSB: You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
The Believers at Antioch Rejoice 30 UEB So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; after they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. BSB BSB: So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
31 UEB When they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement. BSB BSB: When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
32 UEB Judas and Silas, also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. BSB BSB: Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
33 UEB After they had spent some time there, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them. BSB BSB: After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
35 UEB But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch along with many others, where they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord. BSB BSB: But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins (Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)
36 UEB After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." BSB BSB: Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 UEB Barnabas wanted to also take with them John who was called Mark. BSB BSB: Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
38 UEB But Paul thought it was not good to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and did not go further with them in the work. BSB BSB: But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
39 UEB Then there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. BSB BSB: Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
40 UEB But Paul chose Silas and left, after he was entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. BSB BSB: but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 UEB Then he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. BSB BSB: And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.