MODERN LITERAL VERSION

15:1 And some, having came down from Judea, were teaching the brethren, saying, If you* are not circumcised after the custom of Moses, you* are unable to be saved.
15:2 Therefore when it happened, (not just a little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them), the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this debate.

15:3 Therefore indeed, being sent onward by the congregation*, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the turning to God of the Gentiles, and they produced great joy in all the brethren.
15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were accepted by the congregation*, and the apostles and the elders, and they reported how-much God had done with them.
15:5 But there rose up some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is essential to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.

15:6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to see concerning this {F} matter.
15:7 And after much debate had happened, Peter standing up, said to them, Brethren, you* know that from the good days of old, God was choosing among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the good-news and believe.
15:8 And God, the knower of hearts, testifies of them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just-as he also did to us;
15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts in the faith.
15:10 Therefore now, why are you* testing God, that you* should place a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were strong-enough to bear?
15:11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, and they also, according to the same manner.

15:12 And all the crowd was silent, and they heard Barnabas and Paul describing how-much God did, in signs and wonders, among the Gentiles through them.

15:13 And after they were silent, James answered, saying, Brethren, hear me.
15:14 Symeon has described just-as beforehand, how God visited the nations first, to take out of them a people for his name.
15:15 And the words of the prophets agree in this; as it has been written,
15:16 ‘I will turn back after these things, and I will build the tabernacle of David again, which has fallen. And I will build its ruins again. And I will straighten it,
15:17 *that the rest of men may seek out the Lord and all the nations, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord who is doing all these things,' {Amos 9:11, 12}
15:18 (this was known from the beginning of the world with God seen in all of his works.)

15:19 Hence, I judge not to trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles;
15:20 but that we inform them by letter, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
15:21 For* Moses has those who preach him in every city, from ancient generations, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.

15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole congregation*, to send chosen men from them selves: Judas called Barsabbas and Silas; leading men among the brethren, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

15:23 And they wrote through their hand these things:
The apostles and the elders and brethren, to the brethren who are from the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Hail to you!

15:24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have disturbed you* with words, upsetting your* souls; saying you * must be circumcised and to keep the law, to whom we ordered no such thing;
15:25 it seemed good to us, having become united, to choose out men and send them to you* with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
15:26 men who have given up their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report to you* the same things through their speech.
15:28 For* it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to place no more burden upon you* except* these necessary things:
15:29 that you* abstain from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keeping yourselves from these, you* will be practicing well.
Good-bye.
{James' letter is written.}

15:30 Therefore indeed, when they were dismissed, they came down to Antioch, and having gathered the crowd together, they gave them the letter.
15:31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the encouragement.
15:32 And Judas and Silas, also being themselves prophets, encouraged the brethren with many words and further strengthened them.
15:33 And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren to those who had sent them forth.
15:34 {F} But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
15:35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, with many others also.
{Early in 51 to 53 AD. Antioch into Asia Minor & Europe. Paul's second missionary journey. Felix was make governor of Judea. Famine at Rome. Jews expelled from Rome.}

15:36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, We should return now and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are holding up.
15:37 And Barnabas also intended to take with them John, who was called Mark.
15:38 But Paul did not deem it worthy to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia and did not go with them to the work.
15:39 Then* there became a sharp-disagreement, so-that they departed from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus;
15:40 but Paul went forth, having chosen Silas, being given to the grace of the Lord by the brethren.
15:41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, further strengthening the congregations*.
{Footnotes: Acts 15:6- Greek: word. Acts 15:34- This verse is missing from the majority of texts.}
{52 AD. Paul going toward Europe.}