Acts 15 good news bible

Here is the book of Acts 15 in the Good News Bible (GNB):

Acts 15

The Church in Antioch

1 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp disagreement with them. So Paul and Barnabas were sent off by the church, and they took with them John, also called Mark.

The Council in Jerusalem

3 They traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling about the conversion of the Gentiles. When they reached Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders.

4 The next day Peter stood up among the believers (a group of about 120 people) and said, "Brothers, the Scriptures had to be fulfilled in this way, that the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David about Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.

5 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry."

6 With the help of faithful prayers, the church was in an uproar as they chose a replacement for Judas from among themselves.

7 Then, with the help of lots, they selected Matthias, Joseph, whose nickname was Justus, to take the place of Judas.

8 So they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen

9 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas abandoned to go to his own place."

10 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

The Debate

11 For about three years, Paul and Barnabas traveled throughout the countryside, teaching many people about Jesus. But they were told to return to the church in Antioch, which they did.

12 When they arrived, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them. Then they spent some time with the believers.

13 Some time later, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."

14 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp disagreement with them, so they decided to go to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to settle the matter.

15 The church sent Paul and Barnabas and some other believers, including Titus, to Antioch.

16 The apostles and elders met to discuss this question. After much discussion and debate, Peter stood up and said,

17 "Brothers, you know that a long time ago God chose me to be the one through whom he would bring the Good News to the Gentiles. He did this so that they might hear the message and believe.

18 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.

19 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

20 So now why are you putting God to the test by trying to make these Gentiles follow Jewish laws?

21 'The Gentiles,' says the Scripture, 'will be my witnesses; they will proclaim my glory among the nations.'

22 And so God has put the Gentiles at his right hand as witnesses, in order to bring them to glory.

23 And so we have come to the conclusion that we should not trouble those Gentiles who turn to God.

24 Instead, we should write to them, telling them to avoid anything that has been sacrificed to idols, and to avoid sexual immorality and eating the flesh of animals that have been strangled or have been sacrificed to idols.

25 For from the beginning, God chose you to be the people he would make his own.

26 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

27 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it.'

28 Therefore, my brothers, we can be bold and say that the Gentiles have been accepted by God without having to keep the laws of Moses.

29 That is what the prophets meant when they said that the Gentiles would be part of God's people.

30 And so we have come to the conclusion that we should not trouble those Gentiles who turn to God.

31 For the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him, is a guarantee that we will be saved.

32 We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

33 And since we are pure of heart, we have been accepted by God without needing to keep the laws of Moses.

The Decision

34 So the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some men from among themselves and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

35 They chose Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas and sent them off in peace.

36 The men were sent with the following letter:

37 "The apostles and elders, your brothers, send you greetings. We have heard that some people from among us have troubled you and upset you by saying that you must circumcise yourselves and follow Jewish laws.

38 So we have come to the conclusion that we should not trouble those Gentiles who turn to God.

39 We should write to them, telling them to avoid anything that has been sacrificed to idols, and to avoid sexual immorality and eating the flesh of animals that have been strangled or have been sacrificed to idols.

40 For from the beginning, God chose you to be the people he would make his own.

41 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

42 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it.'

43 Therefore, my brothers, we can be bold and say that the Gentiles have been accepted by God without having to keep the laws of Moses.

44 And so we have come to the conclusion that we should not trouble those Gentiles who turn to God.

45 For the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him, is a guarantee that we will be saved.

46 And so we have sent Judas and Silas to you with this letter, because we were told to do so by the Holy Spirit.

47 Please join us in prayer to ask God to show us his will about this matter.

48 The brothers and sisters in Antioch, along with Paul and Barnabas, sent greetings.

49 The letter was read and approved by the whole church.

50 Then they sent Judas and Silas back to Antioch with this additional message:

51 'The Holy Spirit and we ourselves have given you this order: you must abstain from things that have been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from the flesh of animals that have been strangled or have been sacrificed to idols.

52 For from the beginning, God chose you to be the people he would make his own.'

53 When they arrived, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them.

54 Then they spent some time with the believers.