1 And certain having come down from Judea, were teaching the brethren — 'If ye be not circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye are not able to be saved;' 2 there having been, therefore, not a little dissension and disputation to Paul and Barnabas with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up unto the apostles and elders to Jerusalem about this question, 3 they indeed, then, having been sent forward by the assembly, were passing through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations, and they were causing great joy to all the brethren. 4 And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders, they declared also as many things as God did with them; 5 and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying — 'It behoveth to circumcise them, to command them also to keep the law of Moses.' 6 And there were gathered together the apostles and the elders, to see about this matter, 7 and there having been much disputing, Peter having risen up said unto them, 'Men, brethren, ye know that from former days, God among us did make choice, through my mouth, for the nations to hear the word of the good news, and to believe; 8 and the heart-knowing God did bare them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also to us, 9 and did put no difference also between us and them, by the faith having purified their hearts; 10 now, therefore, why do ye tempt God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 but, through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.' 12 And all the multitude did keep silence, and were hearkening to Barnabas and Paul, declaring as many signs and wonders as God did among the nations through them; 13 and after they are silent, James answered, saying, 'Men, brethren, hearken to me; 14 Simeon did declare how at first God did look after to take out of the nations a people for His name, 15 and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written: 16◆ After these things I will turn back, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and its ruins I will build again, and will set it upright — 17◆ that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name hath been called, saith the Lord, who is doing all these things. 18 'Known from the ages to God are all His works; 19 wherefore I judge: not to trouble those who from the nations do turn back to God, 20 but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood; 21 for Moses from former generations in every city hath those preaching him — in the synagogues every sabbath being read.' 22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, chosen men out of themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas — Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren — 23 having written through their hand thus: 'The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brethren, who [are] of the nations, greeting; 24 seeing we have heard that certain having gone forth from us did trouble you with words, subverting your souls, saying to be circumcised and to keep the law, to whom we did give no charge, 25 it seemed good to us, having come together with one accord, chosen men to send unto you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul — 26 men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — 27 we have sent, therefore, Judas and Silas, and they by word are telling the same things. 28 'For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, no more burden to lay upon you, except these necessary things: 29 to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; from which keeping yourselves, ye shall do well; be strong!' 30 They then, indeed, having been let go, went to Antioch, and having brought the multitude together, did deliver the epistle, 31 and they having read, did rejoice for the consolation; 32 Judas also and Silas, being themselves also prophets, through much discourse did exhort the brethren, and confirm, 33 and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brethren unto the apostles; 34 and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still. 35 And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news — with many others also — the word of the Lord; 36 and after certain days, Paul said unto Barnabas, 'Having turned back again, we may look after our brethren, in every city in which we have preached the word of the Lord — how they are.' 37 And Barnabas counselled to take with [them] John called Mark, 38 and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to the work; 39 there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, did sail to Cyprus, 40 and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brethren; 41 and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.
Acts · Young's Literal Translation
Acts 15 Young's Literal Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)