DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR SATURDAY DECEMBER 18
DAILY BIBLE READING
Paul
Acts 15:1-41 Easy-to-Read Version
The Meeting at Jerusalem
1 Then some men came to Antioch from Judea and began teaching the non-Jewish
believers: "You cannot be saved if you are not circumcised as Moses taught
us." 2 Paul and Barnabas were against this teaching and argued with these
men about it. So the group decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and some others
to Jerusalem to talk more about this with the apostles and elders.
3 The church helped them get ready to leave on their trip. The men went
through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria, where they told all about
how the non-Jewish people had turned to the true God. This made all the
believers very happy. 4 When the men arrived in Jerusalem, the apostles, the
elders, and the whole church welcomed them. Paul, Barnabas, and the others
told about all that God had done with them. 5 Some of the believers in
Jerusalem had belonged to the Pharisees. They stood up and said, "The
non-Jewish believers must be circumcised. We must tell them to obey the Law
of Moses!"
6 Then the apostles and the elders gathered to study this problem. 7 After a
long debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "My brothers, I am sure you
remember what happened in the early days. God chose me from among you to
tell the Good News to those who are not Jewish. It was from me that they
heard the Good News and believed. 8 God knows everyone, even their thoughts,
and he accepted these non-Jewish people. He showed this to us by giving them
the Holy Spirit the same as he did to us. 9 To God, those people are not
different from us. When they believed, God made their hearts pure. 10 So
now, why are you putting a heavy burden[a] around the necks of the
non-Jewish followers of Jesus? Are you trying to make God angry? We and our
fathers were not able to carry that burden. 11 No, we believe that we and
these people will be saved the same way-by the grace of the Lord Jesus."
12 Then the whole group became quiet. They listened while Paul and Barnabas
told about all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done through
them among the non-Jewish people. 13 When they finished speaking, James
said, "My brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon Peter has told us how God showed
his love for the non-Jewish people. For the first time, God accepted them
and made them his people. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this too:
16 'I will return after this.
I will build David's house again.
It has fallen down.
I will build again the parts of his house that have been pulled down.
I will make his house new.
17 Then the rest of the world will look for the Lord God-
all those of other nations who are my people too.
The Lord said this.
And he is the one who does all these things.'
18 'All this has been known from the beginning of time.'[b]
19 "So I think we should not make things hard for those who have turned to
God from among the non-Jewish people. 20 Instead, we should send a letter
telling them only the things they should not do:
Don't eat food that has been given to idols. This makes the food unclean.
Don't be involved in sexual sin.
Don't eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still
has the blood in it.
21 They should not do any of these things, because there are still men in
every city who teach the Law of Moses. The words of Moses have been read in
the synagogue every Sabbath day for many years."
The Letter to the Non-Jewish Believers
22 The apostles, the elders, and the whole church wanted to send some men
with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The group decided to choose some of their
own men. They chose Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were
respected by the believers. 23 The group sent the letter with these men. The
letter said:
From the apostles and elders, your brothers,
To all the non-Jewish brothers in the city of Antioch and in the countries
of Syria and Cilicia.
Dear Brothers:
24 We have heard that some men have come to you from our group. What they
said troubled and upset you. But we did not tell them to do this. 25 We have
all agreed to choose some men and send them to you. They will be with our
dear friends, Barnabas and Paul. 26 Barnabas and Paul have given their lives
to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 So we have sent Judas and Silas with
them. They will tell you the same things. 28 We agree with the Holy Spirit
that you should have no more burdens, except for these necessary things:
29 Don't eat food that has been given to idols.
Don't eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still
has the blood in it.
Don't be involved in sexual sin.
If you stay away from these, you will do well.
We say goodbye now.
30 So Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas left Jerusalem and went to Antioch.
There they gathered the group of believers together and gave them the
letter. 31 When the believers read it, they were happy. The letter comforted
them. 32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said many things to
encourage the believers and make them stronger in their faith. 33 After
Judas and Silas stayed there for a while, they left. They received a
blessing of peace from the believers. Then they went back to those who had
sent them. 34 [c]
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught the
believers and told other people the Good News about the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 A few days later, Paul said to Barnabas, "We should go back to all the
towns where we told people the message of the Lord. We should visit the
believers to see how they are doing."
37 Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark with them too. 38 But on their first
trip John Mark did not continue with them in the work. He had left them at
Pamphylia. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him this time.
39 Paul and Barnabas had a big argument about this. It was so bad that they
separated and went different ways. Barnabas sailed to Cyprus and took Mark
with him.
40 Paul chose Silas to go with him. The believers in Antioch put Paul into
the Lord's care and sent him out. 41 Paul and Silas went through the
countries of Syria and Cilicia, helping the churches grow stronger.
Footnotes
Acts 15:10 burden The Jewish law. Some of the Jews tried to make the
non-Jewish believers follow this law.
Acts 15:18 See Isa. 45:21.
Acts 15:34 Some Greek copies add verse 34: "But Silas decided to remain
there."
