The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

Acts 15

22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named x Barsabas, 1 and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23 They wrote this letter by them:
The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that y some who went out from us have troubled you with words, z unsettling your souls, 2 saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" - to whom we gave no such commandment - 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one 3 accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 a men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 b that you abstain from things offered to idols, c from blood, from things strangled, and from d sexual 4 immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.
Farewell.

30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being e prophets also, f exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were g sent back with greetings from the brethren to 5 the apostles. 34 6 However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35 h Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

  1. Cross References
    Acts 1:23
    And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 15:1
    And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
    Galatians 2:4
    And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage).
    Galatians 5:12
    I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
    Titus 1:10
    For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.
    Titus 1:11
    Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.
  3. Cross References
    Galatians 1:7
    Which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
    Galatians 5:10
    I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
  4. Cross References
    Acts 13:50
    But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
    Acts 14:19
    Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
    1 Corinthians 15:30
    And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?
    2 Corinthians 11:23 - 26
    Are they ministers of Christ? - I speak as a fool - I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
  5. Cross References
    Acts 15:20
    But that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
    Acts 21:25
    "But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."
    Revelation 2:14
    But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
    Revelation 2:20
    Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
  6. Cross References
    Leviticus 17:14
    "for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, 'You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.'
  7. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 5:1
    It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles - that a man has his father's wife!
    1 Corinthians 6:18
    Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
    1 Corinthians 7:2
    Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
    Colossians 3:5
    Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
    1 Thessalonians 4:3
    For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.
  8. Cross References
    Acts 11:27
    And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
    1 Corinthians 12:28
    And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
    Ephesians 4:11
    And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.
    Revelation 18:20
    "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!"
  9. Cross References
    Acts 14:22
    Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.
    Acts 18:23
    After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
  10. Cross References
    Mark 5:34
    And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.
    Acts 16:36
    So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.
    1 Corinthians 16:11
    Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.
    Hebrews 11:31
    By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 13:1
    Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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