Acts 15; Acts 16

Acts 15

1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch. Here is what they were teaching the believers. "Moses commanded you to be circumcised," they said. "If you aren't, you can't be saved."

2 But Paul and Barnabas didn't agree with this. They argued strongly with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go up to Jerusalem. Some other believers were chosen to go with them. They were supposed to see the apostles and elders about this question.

3 The church sent them on their way. As they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how those who weren't Jews had turned to God. This news made all the believers very glad.

4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, the church welcomed them. The apostles and elders welcomed them too. Then Paul and Barnabas reported everything God had done through them.

5 Some of the believers were Pharisees. They stood up and said, "Those who aren't Jews must be circumcised. They must obey the law of Moses."

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

7 After they had talked it over, Peter got up and spoke to them. "Brothers," he said, "you know that some time ago God chose me to take the good news to those who aren't Jews. He wanted them to hear the good news and believe.

8 God knows the human heart. By giving the Holy Spirit to non-Jews, he showed that he accepted them. He did the same for them as he had done for us.

9 He showed that there is no difference between us and them. He made their hearts pure because of their faith.

10 "Now then, why are you trying to test God? You test him when you put a heavy load on the believers' shoulders. Our people of long ago couldn't carry that load. We can't either.

11 No! We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus. Those who aren't Jews are saved in the same way."

12 Everyone became quiet as they listened to Barnabas and Paul. They were telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among non-Jews.

13 When they finished, James spoke up. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me.

14 Simon Peter has explained to us how God first showed his concern for those who aren't Jews. He chose some of them to be his very own people.

15 The prophets' words agree with that. They say,

16 " 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. I will rebuild what was destroyed. I will make it what it used to be.

17 Then the rest of the people can look to the Lord. This means all the non-Jews who belong to me. The Lord says this. He is the one who does these things.' (Amos 9:11,12)

18 The Lord does things that have been known for a long time.

19 "Now here is my opinion. We should not make it hard for the non-Jews who are turning to God.

20 Here is what we should write to them. They must not eat food polluted by being offered to statues of gods. They must not commit sexual sins. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not drink blood.

21 These laws of Moses have been preached in every city from the earliest times. They are read out loud in the synagogues every Sabbath day."

22 Then the apostles, the elders and the whole church decided what to do. They would choose some of their own men. They would send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. So they chose two leaders among the believers. Their names were Judas Barsabbas and Silas.

23 Here is the letter they sent with them. The apostles and elders, your brothers, are writing this letter. We are sending it to the non-Jewish believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Greetings.

24 We have heard that some of our people came to you and caused trouble. You were upset by what they said. But we had given them no authority to go.

25 So we all agreed to send our dear friends Barnabas and Paul to you. We chose some others to go with them.

26 Barnabas and Paul have put their lives in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 So we are sending Judas and Silas with them. What they say will agree with this letter.

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to give you a load that is too heavy. So here are a few basic rules.

29 Don't eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. Don't drink blood. Don't eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And don't commit sexual sins. You will do well to keep away from these things. Farewell.

30 The men were sent down to Antioch. There they gathered the church together. They gave the letter to them.

31 The people read it. They were glad for its message of hope.

32 Judas and Silas were prophets. They said many things to give strength and hope to the believers.

33 Judas and Silas stayed there for some time. Then the believers sent them away with the blessing of peace. They sent them back to those who had sent them out.

35 Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch. There they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

36 Some time later Paul spoke to Barnabas. "Let's go back to all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord," he said. "Let's visit the believers and see how they are doing."

37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.

38 But Paul didn't think it was wise to take him. Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. He hadn't continued with them in their work.

39 Barnabas and Paul strongly disagreed with each other. So they went their separate ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus.

40 But Paul chose Silas. The believers asked the Lord to give his grace to Paul and Silas as they went.

41 Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia. He gave strength to the churches there.

Acts 16

1 Paul came to Derbe. Then he went on to Lystra. A believer named Timothy lived there. His mother was Jewish and a believer. His father was a Greek.

2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium said good things about Timothy.

3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey. So he circumcised Timothy because of the Jews who lived in that area. They all knew that Timothy's father was a Greek.

4 Paul and his companions traveled from town to town. They reported what the apostles and elders in Jerusalem had decided. The people were supposed to obey what was in the report.

5 So the churches were made strong in the faith. The number of believers grew every day.

6 Paul and his companions traveled all through the area of Phrygia and Galatia. The Holy Spirit had kept them from preaching the word in Asia Minor.

7 They came to the border of Mysia. From there they tried to enter Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus would not let them.

8 So they passed by Mysia. Then they went down to Troas.

9 During the night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia standing and begging him. "Come over to Macedonia!" the man said. "Help us!"

10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia. We decided that God had called us to preach the good news there.

11 At Troas we got into a boat. We sailed straight for Samothrace. The next day we went on to Neapolis.

12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony. It is an important city in that part of Macedonia. We stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate. We walked down to the river. There we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered together.

14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia. She was from the city of Thyatira. Her business was selling purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to accept Paul's message.

15 She and her family were baptized. Then she invited us to her home. "Do you consider me a believer in the Lord?" she asked. "If you do, come and stay at my house." She succeeded in getting us to go home with her.

16 One day we were going to the place of prayer. On the way we were met by a female slave. She had a spirit that helped her to tell ahead of time what was going to happen. She earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes.

17 The woman followed Paul and the rest of us around. She shouted, "These men serve the Most High God. They are telling you how to be saved."

18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became upset. Turning around, he spoke to the spirit. "In the name of Jesus Christ," he said, "I command you to come out of her!" At that very moment the spirit left her.

19 The female slave's owners realized that their hope of making money was gone. So they grabbed Paul and Silas. They dragged them into the market place to face the authorities.

20 They brought them to the judges. "These men are Jews," her owners said. "They are making trouble in our city.

21 They are suggesting practices that are against Roman law. These are practices we can't accept or take part in."

22 The crowd joined the attack against Paul and Silas. The judges ordered that Paul and Silas be stripped and beaten.

23 They were whipped without mercy. Then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

24 When he received his orders, he put Paul and Silas deep inside the prison. He fastened their feet so they couldn't get away.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying. They were also singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening to them.

26 Suddenly there was a powerful earthquake. It shook the prison from top to bottom. All at once the prison doors flew open. Everybody's chains came loose.

27 The jailer woke up. He saw that the prison doors were open. He pulled out his sword and was going to kill himself. He thought the prisoners had escaped.

28 "Don't harm yourself!" Paul shouted. "We are all here!"

29 The jailer called out for some lights. He rushed in, shaking with fear. He fell down in front of Paul and Silas.

30 Then he brought them out. He asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus. Then you and your family will be saved."

32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him. They also spoke to all the others in his house.

33 At that hour of the night, the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. Right away he and his whole family were baptized.

34 The jailer brought them into his house. He set a meal in front of them. He and his whole family were filled with joy. They had become believers in God.

35 Early in the morning the judges sent their officers to the jailer. They ordered him, "Let those men go."

36 The jailer told Paul, "The judges have ordered me to set you and Silas free. You can leave now. Go in peace."

37 But Paul replied to the officers. "They beat us in public," he said. "We weren't given a trial. And we are Roman citizens! They threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and personally lead us out."

38 The officers reported this to the judges. When the judges heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they became afraid.

39 So they came and said they were sorry. They led them out of the prison. Then they asked them to leave the city.

40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house. There they met with the believers. They told them to be brave. Then they left.