Acts 15 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
1 ENTONCES algunos que venían de Judea enseñaban á los hermanos: Que si no os circuncidáis conforme al rito de Moisés, no podéis ser salvos.
2 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.
2 Así que, suscitada una disensión y contienda no pequeña á Pablo y á Bernabé contra ellos, determinaron que subiesen Pablo y Bernabé á Jerusalem, y algunos otros de ellos, á los apóstoles y á los ancianos, sobre esta cuestión.
3 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.
3 Ellos, pues, habiendo sido acompañados de la iglesia, pasaron por la Fenicia y Samaria, contando la conversión de los Gentiles; y daban gran gozo á todos los hermanos.
4 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.
4 Y llegados á Jerusalem, fueron recibidos de la iglesia y de los apóstoles y de los ancianos: y refirieron todas las cosas que Dios había hecho con ellos.
5 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.”
5 Mas algunos de la secta de los Fariseos, que habían creído, se levantaron, diciendo: Que es menester circuncidarlos, y mandarles que guarden la ley de Moisés.
6 So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.
6 Y se juntaron los apóstoles y los ancianos para conocer de este negocio.
7 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.
7 Y habiendo habido grande contienda, levantándose Pedro, les dijo: Varones hermanos, vosotros sabéis cómo ya hace algún tiempo que Dios escogió que los Gentiles oyesen por mi boca la palabra del evangelio, y creyesen.
8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
8 Y Dios, que conoce los corazones, les dió testimonio, dándoles el Espíritu Santo también como á nosotros;
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.
9 Y ninguna diferencia hizo entre nosotros y ellos, purificando con la fe sus corazones.
10 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?
10 Ahora pues, ¿por qué tentáis á Dios, poniendo sobre la cerviz de los discípulos yugo, que ni nuestros padres ni nosotros hemos podido llevar?
11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
11 Antes por la gracia del Señor Jesús creemos que seremos salvos, como también ellos.
12 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.
12 Entonces toda la multitud calló, y oyeron á Bernabé y á Pablo, que contaban cuán grandes maravillas y señales Dios había hecho por ellos entre los Gentiles.
13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
13 Y después que hubieron callado, Jacobo respondió, diciendo: Varones hermanos, oidme:
14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.
14 Simón ha contado cómo Dios primero visitó á los Gentiles, para tomar de ellos pueblo para su nombre;
15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:
15 Y con esto concuerdan las palabras de los profetas, como está escrito:
16◆ ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
16 Después de esto volveré y restauraré la habitación de David, que estaba caída; y repararé sus ruinas, y la volveré á levantar;
17◆ 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
17 Para que el resto de los hombres busque al Señor, y todos los Gentiles, sobre los cuales es llamado mi nombre, dice el Señor, que hace todas estas cosas.
18 that have been known for ages.’
18 Conocidas son á Dios desde el siglo todas sus obras.
19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
19 Por lo cual yo juzgo, que los que de los Gentiles se convierten á Dios, no han de ser inquietados;
20 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.
20 Sino escribirles que se aparten de las contaminaciones de los ídolos, y de fornicación, y de ahogado, y de sangre.
21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
21 Porque Moisés desde los tiempos antiguos tiene en cada ciudad quien le predique en las sinagogas, donde es leído cada sábado.
22 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,
22 Entonces pareció bien á los apóstoles y á los ancianos, con toda la iglesia, elegir varones de ellos, y enviarlos á Antioquía con Pablo y Bernabé: á Judas que tenía por sobrenombre Barsabas, y á Silas, varones principales entre los hermanos;
23 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.
23 Y escribir por mano de ellos: Los apóstoles y los ancianos y los hermanos, á los hermanos de los Gentiles que están en Antioquía, y en Siria, y en Cilicia, salud:
24 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.
24 Por cuanto hemos oído que algunos que han salido de nosotros, os han inquietado con palabras, trastornando vuestras almas, mandando circuncidaros y guardar la ley, á los cuales no mandamos;
25 So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
25 Nos ha parecido, congregados en uno, elegir varones, y enviarlos á vosotros con nuestros amados Bernabé y Pablo,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
26 Hombres que han expuesto sus vidas por el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.
27 Así que, enviamos á Judas y á Silas, los cuales también por palabra os harán saber lo mismo.
28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
28 Que ha parecido bien al Espíritu Santo, y á nosotros, no imponeros ninguna carga más que estas cosas necesarias:
29 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.
29 Que os abstengáis de cosas sacrificadas á ídolos, y de sangre, y de ahogado, y de fornicación; de las cuales cosas si os guardareis, bien haréis. Pasadlo bien.
30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.
30 Ellos entonces enviados, descendieron á Antioquía; y juntando la multitud, dieron la carta.
31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
31 La cual, como leyeron, fueron gozosos de la consolación.
32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
32 Judas también y Silas, como ellos también eran profetas, consolaron y confirmaron á los hermanos con abundancia de palabra.
33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.
33 Y pasando [allí] algún tiempo, fueron enviados de los hermanos á los apóstoles en paz.
34 Not in this translation
34 Mas á Silas pareció bien el quedarse allí.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.
35 Y Pablo y Bernabé se estaban en Antioquía, enseñando la palabra del Señor y anunciando el evangelio con otros muchos.
36 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.”
36 Y después de algunos días, Pablo dijo á Bernabé: Volvamos á visitar á los hermanos por todas las ciudades en las cuales hemos anunciado la palabra del Señor, cómo están.
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.
37 Y Bernabé quería que tomasen consigo á Juan, el que tenía por sobrenombre Marcos;
38 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.
38 Mas á Pablo no le parecía bien llevar consigo al que se había apartado de ellos desde Pamphylia, y no había ido con ellos á la obra.
39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
39 Y hubo tal contención entre ellos, que se apartaron el uno del otro; y Bernabé tomando á Marcos, navegó á Cipro.
40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
40 Y Pablo escogiendo á Silas, partió encomendado de los hermanos á la gracia del Señor.
41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
41 Y anduvo la Siria y la Cilicia, confirmando á las iglesias.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
James
The Gospels name him first among Jesus' brothers (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3), and Paul calls him 'James, the Lord's brother' (Galatians 1:19); he led the church in Jerusalem and is…
Cited in the guide: Matthew 13:55; Acts 15; James 1:1
Silas
A leading man among the brothers in Jerusalem and a prophet, chosen to accompany Paul on his second journey; he was imprisoned with Paul at Philippi and is elsewhere called…
Cited in the guide: Acts 15:22; Acts 15:40; Acts 16:25
Places
Antioch (Syrian)
The empire's third-largest city and the first major Gentile church — the launching base for Paul's journeys. (Distinct from Pisidian Antioch.)
Cited in the guide: Acts 11:26; Acts 13:1-3; Galatians 2:11
Cross references (40)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Galatians 5:6; Acts 15:5; Colossians 2:8; Galatians 2:11–14; 1 Corinthians 7:18–19
- 2 Acts 15:22–23; Galatians 2:1–2; Acts 15:6–7; Galatians 2:5; 2 Corinthians 11:5
- 3 Acts 14:27; Acts 21:5; 1 Corinthians 16:11; 1 Corinthians 16:6; Acts 11:18–19
- 4 Acts 15:12; Acts 14:27; Acts 15:3; Romans 15:18; Acts 21:17
- 5 Galatians 5:1–3; Acts 15:1; Philippians 3:5–8; Acts 21:20; Acts 15:24
- 6 Proverbs 15:22; Hebrews 13:7; Hebrews 13:17; Acts 15:25; Acts 15:4
- 7 Romans 10:17–18; Galatians 2:7–9; 1 Chronicles 28:4–5; Acts 15:2; Acts 10:20
- 8 Acts 1:24; Acts 10:47; Hebrews 4:13; Acts 14:3; Acts 2:4
- 9 Ephesians 3:6; Galatians 5:6; Romans 3:22; Acts 10:28; Galatians 3:28
- 10 Galatians 5:1; Matthew 23:4; Galatians 4:9; Hebrews 9:9; Matthew 11:28–30
- 11 Romans 3:24; Titus 3:4–7; Ephesians 2:5–9; Titus 2:11; Galatians 2:16
- 12 Acts 14:27; Acts 15:4; John 4:48; Acts 21:19
- 13 Acts 12:17; James 1:1; Galatians 2:12; Galatians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 14:30–33
- 14 2 Peter 1:1; Acts 15:7–9; Luke 2:31–32; 1 Peter 2:9–10; Isaiah 43:21
- 15 Romans 15:8–12; Acts 13:47
- 16 Amos 9:11–12; Luke 1:31–33; Psalm 89:35–49; Ezekiel 17:22–24; Isaiah 9:6–7
- 17 Zechariah 2:11; Zechariah 8:20–23; Hosea 2:23; Isaiah 65:1; Jeremiah 16:19
- 18 Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 3:9; Isaiah 46:9–10; 1 Peter 1:20; Ephesians 1:11
- 19 Acts 15:28; Galatians 1:7–10; Acts 15:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; Isaiah 55:7
- 20 Acts 15:29; Revelation 2:20; Revelation 2:14; Leviticus 3:17; Genesis 9:4
- 21 Acts 13:15; Acts 13:27; 2 Corinthians 3:14–15; Nehemiah 8:1–12; Luke 4:16
- 22 Acts 15:27; Acts 15:40; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; Acts 15:32; Acts 1:23
- 23 Acts 23:26; James 1:1; Galatians 1:21; Romans 16:3–16; Acts 15:22
- 24 Galatians 5:12; Acts 15:1; Galatians 5:10; Titus 1:10–11; Galatians 1:7
- 25 Acts 15:22; 2 Peter 3:15; Acts 1:14; Luke 1:3; Acts 15:2
- 26 Acts 14:19; Acts 9:23–25; Philippians 2:29–30; 2 Corinthians 11:23–27; 1 Corinthians 15:30
- 27 Acts 15:22; 2 John 12; Acts 15:32; 3 John 13
- 28 Matthew 11:30; Revelation 2:24; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Peter 1:12
- 29 Acts 15:20; Acts 21:25; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 2:20; Leviticus 17:14
- 30 Acts 16:4; Acts 6:2; Acts 21:22; Acts 23:33
- 31 Galatians 2:4–5; Galatians 5:1; Philippians 3:3; Acts 15:1; Acts 15:10
- 32 Acts 11:23; Acts 14:22; Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:2
- 33 1 Corinthians 16:11; Hebrews 11:31; Acts 16:36; Genesis 26:29; Exodus 4:18
- 35 Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 13:1; Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 8:4
- 36 Acts 13:4; Acts 14:6; Acts 13:13–14; Acts 13:51; Acts 14:24–25
- 37 Acts 12:12; Acts 12:25; Philemon 24; Acts 13:5; 2 Timothy 4:11
- 38 Acts 13:13; Proverbs 25:19; Psalm 78:9; James 1:8; Luke 14:27–34
- 39 Colossians 4:10; Acts 4:36; Ecclesiastes 7:20; James 3:2; Romans 7:18–21
- 40 Acts 15:22; Acts 11:23; Acts 14:26; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 13:14
- 41 Acts 15:23; Acts 15:32; Galatians 1:21; Acts 16:4–5; Acts 6:9
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- Amos 9:12 and Acts 15:17: “the remnant of Edom” or “the rest of mankind”?
In the Hebrew text of Amos 9:12, restored Israel will “possess the remnant of Edom.” In the Septuagint, “the remnant of men” will “seek” the Lord. At the Council of Jerusalem St James quotes the Greek form to show that God intended Gentiles to belong to his people (Acts 15:16–17). The two readings differ by letters that look and sound alike in Hebrew.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Mark how at every step of the right progress in respect of the Gentiles, the beginning is brought in as matter of necessity.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
… thereof: and I will raise up his ruins, and will build them up again as in the days of old: that the residue of men may inquire for me, and all the nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord that doeth this." Chapter 29 — What Things are Predicted by Isaiah Concerning Christ and the Church The …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… Apostles also, and James the bishop of this Church, have had earnest care: and the Apostles and Elders write a Catholic epistle to all the Gentiles, that they should abstain first from things offered to idols, and then from blood also and from things strangled.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
The Divine record has expressly mentioned this when it says, "purifying their hearts by faith." The faith of God then purifies the heart, the pure heart sees God.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
… writing, and acknowledge this: For it hath seemed good unto the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; shewing evidently by what they wrote, that though the writing was by the hands …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)