Acts 15 :: Amplified Bible (AMP)

The apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter.

All the people remained silent, and they listened [attentively] to Barnabas and Paul as they described all the signs and wonders (attesting miracles) that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

‘AFTER THESE THINGS I will return,

AND I WILL REBUILD THE TENT OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN;

I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS,

AND I WILL RESTORE IT,

SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD,

AND ALL THE GENTILES UPON WHOM MY NAME HAS BEEN INVOKED,’

SAYS THE LORD,

WHO HAS BEEN MAKING THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.

“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble and make it difficult for those who are turning to God among the Gentiles [by putting obstacles in their way],

Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their men to go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas [also called Silvanus, both], leading men among the brothers.

“The apostles and the brothers who are the elders, to the brothers and sisters who are from the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, Greetings.

Since we have heard that some of our men have troubled you with their teachings, causing distress and confusion—men to whom we gave no such orders or instructions—

it has been decided by us, having met together, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report by word of mouth the same things [that we decided in our meeting].

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials:

that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from [consuming] blood, and from [eating the meat of] things that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”

So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and after assembling the congregation, they delivered the letter.

After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers and sisters (believers) in every city where we preached the message of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”