The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

Acts 15

Listen to the Word

Initializing audio...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

1

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

WhatsApp Copy

2

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

WhatsApp Copy

3

And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

WhatsApp Copy

4

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

WhatsApp Copy

5

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

WhatsApp Copy

6

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

WhatsApp Copy

7

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

WhatsApp Copy

8

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

WhatsApp Copy

9

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

WhatsApp Copy

10

Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

WhatsApp Copy

11

But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

WhatsApp Copy

12

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

WhatsApp Copy

13

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

WhatsApp Copy

14

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

WhatsApp Copy

15

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

WhatsApp Copy

16

After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

WhatsApp Copy

17

That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

WhatsApp Copy

18

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

WhatsApp Copy

19

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

WhatsApp Copy

20

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

WhatsApp Copy

21

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

WhatsApp Copy

22

Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

WhatsApp Copy

23

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

WhatsApp Copy

24

Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

WhatsApp Copy

25

It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

WhatsApp Copy

26

Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WhatsApp Copy

27

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

WhatsApp Copy

28

For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

WhatsApp Copy

29

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

WhatsApp Copy

30

So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

WhatsApp Copy

31

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

WhatsApp Copy

32

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

WhatsApp Copy

33

And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

WhatsApp Copy

34

Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

WhatsApp Copy

35

Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

WhatsApp Copy

36

And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.

WhatsApp Copy

37

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

WhatsApp Copy

38

But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

WhatsApp Copy

39

And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

WhatsApp Copy

40

And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

WhatsApp Copy

41

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

WhatsApp Copy

Previous Next

Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

Acts 15 records the crucial Council of Jerusalem, where the apostles and elders addressed the issue of Gentile circumcision. It establishes that salvation is by grace through faith alone, apart from the works of the Law, preserving the unity of the Church.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. Salvation by Grace: We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved (v. 11). We must guard against adding human requirements or "legalism" to the simple Gospel of faith.
2. The Value of Counsel: The church resolved a major conflict through respectful dialogue and the guidance of Scripture (v. 13-21). This provides a model for resolving disputes within the modern church.
3. Focus on Essentials: The council focused on a few "necessary things" to maintain fellowship (v. 28). We should prioritize the core truths of the faith over non-essential cultural differences.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

God of Peace, who hast broken down the wall of partition between us: keep us firm in the doctrine of Thy grace. Grant us the wisdom to resolve our differences in love and to live in unity, that the world may know we are Thine. Amen.

Copied to clipboard!