Acts 15

1Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”Cross-references: Gen 17:10 · Lev 12:3 · John 7:22 · Acts 6:14 · Acts 15:3 · Acts 15:5 · +15 more

2Therefore 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.Cross-references: Ex 18:23 · 1Sam 8:7 · Acts 10:23 · Acts 11:12 · Acts 11:30 · Acts 15:4 · +14 more

3They, 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.Cross-references: Isa 60:4 · Isa 66:12 · Luke 15:5 · Luke 15:23 · Luke 15:32 · Acts 8:14 · +14 more

4When 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.Cross-references: Matt 10:40 · Acts 14:27 · Acts 15:3 · Acts 15:12 · Acts 18:27 · Acts 21:17 · +9 more

5But 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.”Cross-references: Acts 15:1 · Acts 15:24 · Acts 21:20 · Acts 24:5 · Acts 26:5 · Gal 5:1 · +1 more

6The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.Cross-references: Prov 15:22 · Matt 18:20 · Acts 6:2 · Acts 15:4 · Acts 15:25 · Acts 21:18 · +2 more

7When 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.Cross-references: Ex 4:12 · 1Chr 28:4 · Jer 1:9 · Matt 16:18 · John 3:27 · John 15:16 · +16 more

8God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.Cross-references: 1Sam 16:7 · 1Ki 8:39 · 1Chr 28:9 · 1Chr 29:17 · Ps 44:21 · Ps 139:1 · +16 more

9He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.Cross-references: Acts 10:15 · Acts 10:28 · Acts 10:34 · Acts 10:43 · Acts 11:12 · Acts 14:1 · +16 more

10Now 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?Cross-references: Ex 17:2 · Isa 7:12 · Matt 4:7 · Matt 11:28 · Matt 23:4 · Gal 4:1 · +4 more

11But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”Cross-references: Rom 3:24 · Rom 5:15 · Rom 5:20 · Rom 6:23 · 1Cor 16:23 · 2Cor 8:9 · +8 more

12All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.Cross-references: John 4:48 · Acts 14:27 · Acts 15:4 · Acts 21:19

13After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.Cross-references: Mark 15:40 · Acts 2:14 · Acts 2:22 · Acts 2:29 · Acts 7:2 · Acts 12:17 · +8 more

14Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.Cross-references: Isa 43:21 · Isa 55:11 · Luke 1:68 · Luke 1:78 · Luke 2:31 · Acts 15:7 · +4 more

15This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,Cross-references: Acts 13:47 · Rom 15:8

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 upCross-references: 2Sam 7:11 · 1Ki 12:16 · Ps 89:35 · Isa 9:6 · Jer 12:15 · Jer 33:24 · +6 more

17that 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.’Cross-references: Gen 22:18 · Gen 48:16 · Gen 49:10 · Num 6:27 · Num 24:23 · Ps 22:26 · +23 more

18“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.Cross-references: Num 23:19 · Isa 41:22 · Isa 44:7 · Isa 45:21 · Isa 46:9 · Matt 13:35 · +9 more

19Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,Cross-references: Isa 55:7 · Hos 14:2 · Acts 15:10 · Acts 15:24 · Acts 15:28 · Acts 26:20 · +4 more

20but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.Cross-references: Gen 9:4 · Gen 35:2 · Ex 20:3 · Ex 20:23 · Ex 34:15 · Lev 3:17 · +38 more

21For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”Cross-references: Neh 8:1 · Luke 4:16 · Acts 13:15 · Acts 13:27 · 2Cor 3:14

22Then 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.Cross-references: 2Sam 3:36 · 2Chr 30:4 · 2Chr 30:12 · Acts 1:23 · Acts 6:4 · Acts 8:14 · +17 more

23They 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.Cross-references: Acts 11:18 · Acts 14:27 · Acts 15:1 · Acts 15:4 · Acts 15:22 · Acts 15:41 · +11 more

24Because 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;Cross-references: Jer 23:16 · Acts 15:1 · Acts 15:9 · Gal 1:7 · Gal 2:3 · Gal 5:4 · +6 more

25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,Cross-references: Matt 11:26 · Luke 1:3 · Acts 1:14 · Acts 2:1 · Acts 2:46 · Acts 15:2 · +12 more

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Cross-references: Judg 5:18 · Acts 9:23 · Acts 13:50 · Acts 14:19 · 1Cor 15:30 · 2Cor 11:23 · +1 more

27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.Cross-references: Acts 15:22 · Acts 15:32 · 2John 1:12 · 3John 1:13

28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:Cross-references: Matt 11:30 · Matt 23:4 · John 16:13 · Acts 5:32 · Acts 15:8 · Acts 15:19 · +7 more

29that 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.”Cross-references: Lev 17:14 · Luke 9:61 · Acts 15:20 · Acts 18:21 · Acts 21:25 · Acts 23:30 · +12 more

30So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.Cross-references: Acts 6:2 · Acts 16:4 · Acts 21:22 · Acts 23:33

31When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.Cross-references: Acts 15:1 · Acts 15:10 · Acts 16:5 · Gal 2:4 · Gal 5:1 · Phil 3:3

32Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.Cross-references: Isa 35:3 · Dan 11:1 · Matt 23:34 · Luke 11:49 · Acts 2:17 · Acts 2:40 · +30 more

33After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.Cross-references: Gen 26:29 · Ex 4:18 · Mark 5:34 · Acts 16:36 · 1Cor 16:11 · Heb 11:31 · +1 more

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35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.Cross-references: Matt 28:19 · Acts 8:4 · Acts 13:1 · Acts 14:28 · Acts 28:31 · Col 1:28 · +2 more

36After 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.”Cross-references: Ex 4:18 · Jer 23:2 · Matt 25:36 · Matt 25:43 · Acts 7:23 · Acts 13:4 · +13 more

37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.Cross-references: Acts 12:12 · Acts 12:25 · Acts 13:5 · Acts 13:13 · Col 4:10 · 2Tim 4:11 · +1 more

38But 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.Cross-references: Ps 78:9 · Prov 25:19 · Luke 9:61 · Luke 14:27 · Acts 13:13 · James 1:8

39Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,Cross-references: Ps 106:33 · Ps 119:96 · Eccl 7:20 · Acts 4:36 · Acts 6:1 · Acts 11:20 · +6 more

40but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.Cross-references: Acts 11:23 · Acts 13:3 · Acts 14:26 · Acts 15:22 · Acts 15:32 · Acts 16:1 · +6 more

41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.Cross-references: Acts 6:9 · Acts 15:23 · Acts 15:32 · Acts 16:4 · Acts 18:18 · Acts 21:3 · +1 more