Acts 15 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and taught the brothers, saying, “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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.”
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 the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
6 Y se juntaron los apóstoles y los ancianos para conocer de este negocio.
7 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.
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 God, who knows the heart, witnesses to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, 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 and he made no distinction between us and them, making their hearts clean by faith.
9 Y ninguna diferencia hizo entre nosotros y ellos, purificando con la fe sus corazones.
10 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?
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 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they were.”
11 Antes por la gracia del Señor Jesús creemos que seremos salvos, como también ellos.
12 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.
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 After they stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
13 Y después que hubieron callado, Jacobo respondió, diciendo: Varones hermanos, oidme:
14 Simon has told how God first graciously helped the Gentiles in order to take from them a people for his name.
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 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,
16 Después de esto volveré y restauraré la habitación de David, que estaba caída; y repararé sus ruinas, y la volveré á levantar;
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 This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times.
18 Conocidas son á Dios desde el siglo todas sus obras.
19 Therefore, my opinion is, that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.
19 Por lo cual yo juzgo, que los que de los Gentiles se convierten á Dios, no han de ser inquietados;
20 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.
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 the ancient times and he is read in the synagogues 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 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.
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 They wrote this: “From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers 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 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.
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 This being so, all of us have agreed to choose men and to send them 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, who will tell you the same thing themselves in their own words.
27 Así que, enviamos á Judas y á Silas, los cuales también por palabra os harán saber lo mismo.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
28 Que ha parecido bien al Espíritu Santo, y á nosotros, no imponeros ninguna carga más que estas cosas necesarias:
29 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.”
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 they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; after they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
30 Ellos entonces enviados, descendieron á Antioquía; y juntando la multitud, dieron la carta.
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement.
31 La cual, como leyeron, fueron gozosos de la consolación.
32 Judas and Silas, also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
32 Judas también y Silas, como ellos también eran profetas, consolaron y confirmaron á los hermanos con abundancia de palabra.
33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent away in peace from the brothers 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 stayed in Antioch along with many others, where they taught and proclaimed 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 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.”
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 also take with them John who was called Mark.
37 Y Bernabé quería que tomasen consigo á Juan, el que tenía por sobrenombre Marcos;
38 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.
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 Then there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to 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, after he was entrusted 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 Then he went 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)