{
  "apiVersion": "v1",
  "kind": "Chapter",
  "metadata": {
    "generated": "2026-08-22T14:14:13Z",
    "language": "en",
    "book": "acts",
    "chapter": 15
  },
  "data": {
    "n": 15,
    "bookSlug": "acts",
    "bookCode": "ACT",
    "refId": "",
    "title": "The Jerusalem Council: the Gentile-inclusion decision + the apostolic decree",
    "translation": null,
    "segments": [],
    "lines": [],
    "paragraphs": [{
        "n": 1,
        "refId": "ACT-15:1",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.1",
        "text": "And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved."
      },{
        "n": 2,
        "refId": "ACT-15:2",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.2",
        "text": "And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question."
      },{
        "n": 3,
        "refId": "ACT-15:3",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.3",
        "text": "They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren."
      },{
        "n": 4,
        "refId": "ACT-15:4",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.4",
        "text": "And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them."
      },{
        "n": 5,
        "refId": "ACT-15:5",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.5",
        "text": "But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."
      },{
        "n": 6,
        "refId": "ACT-15:6",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.6",
        "text": "And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter."
      },{
        "n": 7,
        "refId": "ACT-15:7",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.7",
        "text": "And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe."
      },{
        "n": 8,
        "refId": "ACT-15:8",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.8",
        "text": "And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;"
      },{
        "n": 9,
        "refId": "ACT-15:9",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.9",
        "text": "and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith."
      },{
        "n": 10,
        "refId": "ACT-15:10",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.10",
        "text": "Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"
      },{
        "n": 11,
        "refId": "ACT-15:11",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.11",
        "text": "But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they."
      },{
        "n": 12,
        "refId": "ACT-15:12",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.12",
        "text": "And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them."
      },{
        "n": 13,
        "refId": "ACT-15:13",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.13",
        "text": "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:"
      },{
        "n": 14,
        "refId": "ACT-15:14",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.14",
        "text": "Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name."
      },{
        "n": 15,
        "refId": "ACT-15:15",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.15",
        "text": "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,"
      },{
        "n": 16,
        "refId": "ACT-15:16",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.16",
        "text": "After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:"
      },{
        "n": 17,
        "refId": "ACT-15:17",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.17",
        "text": "That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,"
      },{
        "n": 18,
        "refId": "ACT-15:18",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.18",
        "text": "Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of       old."
      },{
        "n": 19,
        "refId": "ACT-15:19",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.19",
        "text": "Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;"
      },{
        "n": 20,
        "refId": "ACT-15:20",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.20",
        "text": "but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood."
      },{
        "n": 21,
        "refId": "ACT-15:21",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.21",
        "text": "For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath."
      },{
        "n": 22,
        "refId": "ACT-15:22",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.22",
        "text": "Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:"
      },{
        "n": 23,
        "refId": "ACT-15:23",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.23",
        "text": "and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:"
      },{
        "n": 24,
        "refId": "ACT-15:24",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.24",
        "text": "Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;"
      },{
        "n": 25,
        "refId": "ACT-15:25",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.25",
        "text": "it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,"
      },{
        "n": 26,
        "refId": "ACT-15:26",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.26",
        "text": "men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
      },{
        "n": 27,
        "refId": "ACT-15:27",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.27",
        "text": "We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth."
      },{
        "n": 28,
        "refId": "ACT-15:28",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.28",
        "text": "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:"
      },{
        "n": 29,
        "refId": "ACT-15:29",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.29",
        "text": "that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well."
      },{
        "n": 30,
        "refId": "ACT-15:30",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.30",
        "text": "So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle."
      },{
        "n": 31,
        "refId": "ACT-15:31",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.31",
        "text": "And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation."
      },{
        "n": 32,
        "refId": "ACT-15:32",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.32",
        "text": "And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them."
      },{
        "n": 33,
        "refId": "ACT-15:33",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.33",
        "text": "And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth."
      },{
        "n": 34,
        "refId": "ACT-15:34",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.34",
        "text": "[But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.]"
      },{
        "n": 35,
        "refId": "ACT-15:35",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.35",
        "text": "But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also."
      },{
        "n": 36,
        "refId": "ACT-15:36",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.36",
        "text": "And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare."
      },{
        "n": 37,
        "refId": "ACT-15:37",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.37",
        "text": "And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark."
      },{
        "n": 38,
        "refId": "ACT-15:38",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.38",
        "text": "But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work."
      },{
        "n": 39,
        "refId": "ACT-15:39",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.39",
        "text": "And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;"
      },{
        "n": 40,
        "refId": "ACT-15:40",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.40",
        "text": "but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord."
      },{
        "n": 41,
        "refId": "ACT-15:41",
        "verseRef": "ACT.15.41",
        "text": "And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches."
      }
    ]
  },
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