To Protect and Cherish

Trinity Presbyterian Church

Acts 15:1-35
But 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.”

2And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and
some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders
about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through
both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and

brought great joy to all the brothers. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were wel-
comed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God

had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees
rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law
of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7And af-
ter there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know

that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles
should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8And God, who knows the heart, bore
witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9

and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, there-
fore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disci-
ples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we

will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

12And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they relat-
ed what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After

they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related
how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15And with
this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will restore it,17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn
to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and
from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from
ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read
every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose
men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent

Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the follow-
ing letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of

the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard
that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling

your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, hav-
ing come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barna-
bas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ. 27We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same
things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay
on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has
been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from
sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the
congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31And when they had read it, they
rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32And Judas and Silas, who were themselves
prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33And after
they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had
sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the
word of the Lord, with many others also.