The Dispute over Circumcision
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.” Gal 5:6Act 15:5Col 2:81Co 7:18-19Gal 2:11-14Lev 12:3Gal 5:1-4Gal 6:13-16 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. Act 15:22-23Act 15:6-7Gal 2:1-22Co 11:5Act 11:30Act 15:4Gal 1:6-10Gal 2:5
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. Act 14:27Act 21:51Co 16:111Co 16:6Act 11:18-19Act 15:12Rom 15:24Tit 3:13 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. Act 14:27Act 15:12Act 15:3Act 21:17Rom 15:181Co 15:102Co 5:192Co 6:1
The Council at Jerusalem
(Amos 9:11–15; Galatians 2:1–10)
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.” Gal 5:1-3Act 15:1Php 3:5-8Act 15:24Act 21:20Act 24:5Act 26:5-6 So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter. Pro 15:22Act 15:25Heb 13:17Heb 13:7Act 15:4Act 21:18Act 6:2Mat 18:20
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. Gal 2:7-9Rom 10:17-181Ch 28:4-5Act 15:2Act 10:20Act 10:32-48Act 20:24Act 1:16 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. Act 1:24Act 10:47Act 14:3Act 2:4Heb 4:131Ch 28:91Ki 8:391Sa 16:7 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith. Eph 3:6Gal 5:6Rom 3:22Act 10:281Co 1:2Act 11:12Col 3:11Gal 3:28
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? Gal 5:1Mat 23:4Gal 4:9Heb 9:9Isa 7:12Mat 11:28-30Mat 4:7Exo 17:2 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” Rom 3:24Tit 3:4-7Eph 2:5-9Tit 2:11Gal 2:162Co 13:14Rom 6:231Co 16:23
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. Act 14:27Act 15:4Act 21:19Jhn 4:48 When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me! Act 12:17Gal 2:12Gal 2:9Jas 1:11Co 14:30-33Act 2:14Act 2:22Act 2:29 Simon 1has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own. 2Pe 1:1Act 15:7-9Luk 2:31-321Pe 2:9-10Isa 43:21Rom 1:5Isa 55:11-13Luk 1:68 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: Act 13:47Rom 15:8-12
‘After this I will return and rebuild Amo 9:11-12Luk 1:31-33Psa 89:35-49Ezk 17:22-241Ki 12:16Isa 9:6-7Jer 12:15Jer 33:24-26
the fallen tent of David.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, Zec 2:11Zec 8:20-23Hos 2:23Isa 65:1Isa 66:18-21Jer 16:19Mal 1:11Isa 43:7
and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
says the Lord who does these things
that have been known for ages.’ 2 Eph 1:4Eph 3:9Isa 46:9-101Pe 1:20Eph 1:11Act 17:26Num 23:192Th 2:13
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Act 15:28Gal 1:7-101Th 1:9Act 15:24Act 26:20Hos 14:2Isa 55:7Act 15:10 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. Act 15:29Rev 2:20Rev 2:14Gen 9:4Lev 3:171Co 8:4-13Act 21:251Co 10:7-8 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” Act 13:15Act 13:272Co 3:14-15Luk 4:16Neh 8:1-12
The Letter to the Gentile Believers
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, Act 15:27Act 15:401Pe 5:121Th 1:12Th 1:1Act 1:23Act 15:32Act 18:5 and sent them with this letter: Act 23:26Gal 1:21Jas 1:1Act 15:22Rom 16:3-162Jn 1:102Jn 1:132Jn 1:3
The apostles and the elders, your brothers,
To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings.
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. 3 Gal 5:12Act 15:1Gal 5:10Gal 1:7Tit 1:10-111Jn 2:19Gal 2:3-4Gal 6:12-13 So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 2Pe 3:15Act 1:14Act 15:2Act 15:22Luk 1:31Co 1:10Act 15:27-28Act 15:35 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Act 14:19Act 9:23-25Php 2:29-301Co 15:302Co 11:23-27Act 13:50Jdg 5:18 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing. Act 15:222Jn 1:123Jn 1:13Act 15:32
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: Jhn 16:13Mat 11:30Rev 2:241Co 14:371Pe 1:121Co 7:40Act 15:19Act 15:8 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. Act 15:20Act 21:25Rev 2:14Rev 2:20Lev 17:141Co 10:18-20Rom 14:20-211Jn 5:21
Farewell.
The Believers at Antioch Rejoice
So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter. Act 16:4Act 6:2Act 21:22Act 23:33 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message. Gal 2:4-5Gal 5:1Php 3:3Act 15:1Act 15:10Act 16:5
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. Act 11:23Act 13:1Act 14:221Co 14:31Pe 5:11Pe 5:101Pe 5:121Th 3:2 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them. 4 1Co 16:11Act 16:36Heb 11:31Gen 26:292Jn 1:10Exo 4:18Mrk 5:34 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. 2Ti 4:2Col 1:28Act 13:1Mat 28:19-201Ti 2:7Act 14:28Act 28:31Act 8:4
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins
(Acts 13:1–3; Acts 18:23–28)
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.” Act 13:4Act 14:6Act 13:13-14Act 13:51Act 14:24-252Co 11:281Th 3:10-11Act 14:1 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark. Act 12:122Ti 4:11Act 12:25Act 13:5Col 4:10Phm 1:24Act 13:13 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. Act 13:13Jas 1:8Luk 14:27-34Pro 25:19Psa 78:9Luk 9:61
Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, Col 4:10Act 4:36Ecc 7:20Jas 3:2Rom 7:18-21Act 11:20Act 13:4-12Act 6:1 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. Act 15:22Act 11:23Act 14:261Co 15:102Co 13:142Jn 1:10-112Ti 4:22Act 13:3 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Act 15:23Act 15:32Gal 1:21Act 16:4-5Act 21:3Act 6:9Act 18:18