Acts 15 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Then some men came \{to Antioch\} from Judea. They began teaching the non-Jewish brothers: “You cannot be saved if you are not circumcised. {\cf2\super [296]} Moses taught us to do this.”

² Paul and Barnabas were against this teaching. They argued with these men about it. So the group decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and some other men to Jerusalem. These men were going there to talk more about this with the apostles {\cf2\super [297]} and elders. {\cf2\super [298]}

³ The church helped the men leave on the trip. These men went through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria. In these countries they told all about how the non-Jewish people had turned to the true God. This made all the brothers very happy.

⁴ Paul, Barnabas, and the others arrived in Jerusalem. The apostles, {\cf2\super [299]} the elders, {\cf2\super [300]} and the whole group of believers welcomed them. Paul, Barnabas, and the others told about all the things that God had done with them.

⁵ Some of the believers \{in Jerusalem\} had belonged to the Pharisees. {\cf2\super [301]} They stood up and said, “The non-Jewish believers must be circumcised. {\cf2\super [302]} We must tell them to obey the law of Moses!”

⁶ Then the apostles {\cf2\super [303]} and the elders {\cf2\super [304]} gathered to study this problem.

⁷ There was a long debate. Then Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, I know that you remember what happened in the early days. God chose me then from among you to tell the Good News {\cf2\super [305]} to the non-Jewish people. They heard the Good News from me and they believed.

⁸ God knows the thoughts of all men, and he accepted these non-Jewish people. God showed this to us by giving them the Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [306]} the same as he did to us.

⁹ To God, those people are not different from us. When they believed, God made their hearts pure.

¹⁰ So now, why are you putting a heavy burden {\cf2\super [307]} around the necks of the non-Jewish brothers? Are you trying to make God angry? We and our fathers {\cf2\super [308]} were not able to carry that burden!

¹¹ No, we believe that we and these people will be saved by the grace (kindness) of the Lord Jesus!”

¹² Then the whole group became quiet. They listened to Paul and Barnabas speak. Paul and Barnabas told about all the miracles and wonders {\cf2\super [309]} that God did through them among the non-Jewish people.

¹³ Paul and Barnabas finished speaking. Then James spoke. He said, “My brothers, listen to me.

¹⁴ Simon (Peter) has told us how God showed his love for the non-Jewish people. For the first time, God accepted the non-Jewish people and made them his people.

¹⁵ The words of the prophets {\cf2\super [310]} agree with this too:

¹⁶ ‘I (God) will return after this.\par I will build David’s {\cf2\super [311]} house again.\par It has fallen down.\par I will build again the parts of his house that have been pulled down.\par I will make his house new.\par

¹⁷ Then all other people will look for the Lord (God)—\par all the non-Jewish people that are\par my people too.\par The Lord (God) said this.\par And he is the One who does\par all these things.\par \i (Amos 9:11-12)\i0 \par

¹⁸ These things have been known\par from the beginning of time.’\par

¹⁹ “So I think we should not bother the non-Jewish brothers who have turned to God.

²⁰ Instead, we should write a letter to them. We should tell them these things:

²¹ They should not do these things, because there are still men (Jews) in every city who teach the law of Moses. The words of Moses have been read in the synagogue {\cf2\super [313]} every Sabbath day {\cf2\super [314]} for many years.”

²² The apostles, {\cf2\super [315]} the elders, {\cf2\super [316]} and the whole church (group of believers) wanted to send some men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The group decided to choose some of their own men. They chose Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. These men were respected by the brothers \{in Jerusalem\}.

²³ The group sent the letter with these men. The letter said:

²⁴ We have heard that some men have come to you from our group. The things they said troubled and upset you. But we did not tell them to do this!

²⁵ We have all agreed to choose some men and send them to you. They will be with our dear friends, Barnabas and Paul.

²⁶ Barnabas and Paul have given their lives to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷ So we have sent Judas and Silas with them. They will tell you the same things.

²⁸ The Holy Spirit {\cf2\super [319]} thinks that you should have no more burdens, and we agree. You need to do only these things:

²⁹ Don’t eat food that has been given to idols. {\cf2\super [320]} \par Don’t eat meat from animals that have been\par strangled (choked) or\par any meat that still has the blood in it.\par Don’t do any kind of sexual sin.\par

³⁰ So Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas left Jerusalem. They went to Antioch. In Antioch they gathered the group of believers and gave them the letter.

³¹ When the believers read it, they were happy. The letter comforted them.

³² Judas and Silas were also prophets. {\cf2\super [321]} They said many things to help the brothers (believers) and make them stronger.

³³ After Judas and Silas stayed there for a while, they left. They received a blessing of peace from the brothers. Judas and Silas went back to the brothers \{in Jerusalem\} who had sent them.

³⁴ {\cf2\super [322]}

³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others told the Good News {\cf2\super [323]} and taught the people the message {\cf2\super [324]} of the Lord.

³⁶ A few days later, Paul said to Barnabas, “We told the message {\cf2\super [325]} of the Lord in many towns. We should go back to all those towns to visit the brothers and sisters and see how they are doing.”

³⁷ Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark with them too.

³⁸ But \{on their first trip\} John Mark had left them at Pamphylia; he did not continue with them in the work. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him.

³⁹ Paul and Barnabas had a big argument about this. They separated and went different ways. Barnabas sailed to Cyprus and took Mark with him.

⁴⁰ Paul chose Silas to go with him. The brothers \{in Antioch\} put Paul into the Lord’s care and sent him out.

⁴¹ Paul and Silas went through the countries of Syria and Cilicia, helping the churches {\cf2\super [326]} grow stronger.