Acts 15:15-20 in English

¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

¹⁶ 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:

¹⁷ That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,

¹⁸ Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

¹⁹ Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;

²⁰ 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.

¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

¹⁶ After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

¹⁷ That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

¹⁸ Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

¹⁹ Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

²⁰ But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

¹⁶ 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:

¹⁷ That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,

¹⁸ Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from the beginning of the world.

¹⁹ Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles turn to God;

²⁰ 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.

¹⁵ These words that God spoke, words that were written by one of the prophets {that one of the prophets wrote} long ago, agree with that:

¹⁶ Later on I will return and I will re-establish the kingdom MET that David ruled and that has been {that people have} destroyed. My doing that will be like rebuilding a house that has been {that people have} torn down.

¹⁷ I will do that in order that all other people might seek me, the Lord God. I will do that in order that all the non-Jews whom I have called to belong to me MTY might seek me. You can be certain that this will happen because I the Lord God, who will do those things, have spoken these words.

¹⁸ I caused my people to know about them long ago.”

¹⁹ James continued by saying, “Therefore I have decided that we(inc) should stop bothering the non-Jewish people who are turning away from their sins and turning to God. That is, we should stop demanding that they obey all our laws and rituals.

²⁰ Instead, we should write a letter to them requiring only four things: They should not eat meat/food that people have offered to idols, they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married, they should not eat meat from animals that have been killed by being strangled { people have strangled}, and they should not eat the blood of animals.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore my judgement is that we don’t trouble those from amongst the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And this is in agreement with the words of the prophets, as it is said,

¹⁶ After these things I will come back, and will put up the tent of David which has been broken down, building up again its broken parts and making it complete:

¹⁷ So that the rest of men may make search for the Lord, and all the Gentiles on whom my name is named,

¹⁸ Says the Lord, who has made these things clear from the earliest times.

¹⁹ For this reason my decision is, that we do not put trouble in the way of those who from among the Gentiles are turned to God;

²⁰ But that we give them orders to keep themselves from things offered to false gods, and from the evil desires of the body, and from the flesh of animals put to death in ways against the law, and from blood.

¹⁵ And with this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written:

¹⁶ After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen, and will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up,

¹⁷ so that the residue of men may seek out the Lord, and all the nations on whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who does these things

¹⁸ known from eternity.

¹⁹ Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to God;

²⁰ but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

¹⁶ After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:

¹⁷ That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.

¹⁸ To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.

¹⁹ For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.

²⁰ But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

¹⁶ ‘After this I will return, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen; and its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

¹⁷ in order that the rest of men may seek out the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “Known from everlasting to God are all His works.

¹⁹ Therefore I judge that we must not cause trouble for those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles;

²⁰ but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return, and I will rebuild David's tent, the fallen one; yes, I will rebuild its ruins and restore it;

¹⁷ so that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles—the ones, that is, upon whom my name has been called—says the Lord who does all these things.’

¹⁸ All His works are known to God from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore I judge that we should not create difficulty for those who are turning to God from among the ethnic nations,

²⁰ but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,

¹⁶ ‘In the future I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen house of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it straight.

¹⁷ I will do this so that those who are left may come to the Lord, including the foreigners who call on my name.

¹⁸ This is what the Lord says, who revealed these things long ago.’

¹⁹ So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.

²⁰ We should write to them and tell them to avoid food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, meat of animals that have been strangled, and from consuming blood.

¹⁵ And to this agree the woordes of the Prophets, as it is written,

¹⁶ After this I will returne, and will builde againe the tabernacle of Dauid, which is fallen downe, and the ruines thereof will I build againe, and I will set it vp,

¹⁷ That the residue of men might seeke after the Lord, and all the Gentiles vpon whom my Name is called, saith the Lord which doeth all these things.

¹⁸ From the beginning of the worlde, God knoweth all his workes.

¹⁹ Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them of the Gentiles that are turned to God,

²⁰ But that we send vnto them, that they abstaine themselues from filthinesse of idoles, and fornication, and that that is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

¹⁶ After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

¹⁷ that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

¹⁸ Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

¹⁹ Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

²⁰ but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And with this agree the words of the Prophets, as it is written:

¹⁶ “After this I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which hath fallen; and I will rebuild its ruins, and will set it up;

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord, and all the gentiles, who have been called by my name, saith the Lord, who doeth these things,

¹⁸ which were known from the beginning.”

¹⁹ Wherefore my judgment is, that we should not trouble those who from among the gentiles are turning to God;

²⁰ but that we should write to them by letter to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from that which hath been strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And that is in harmony with the words of the prophets, where they say —

¹⁶ ‘After this I will return; And I will rebuild the house of David which has fallen — Its ruins I will rebuild, And will set it up once more;

¹⁷ That so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord — Even all the Gentiles on whom my name has been bestowed.

¹⁸ Says the Lord, as he does these things, known from long ago.’

¹⁹ In my judgement, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,

²⁰ but we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.

¹⁵ And that is in harmony with the words of the prophets, where they say —

¹⁶ ‘After this I will return; And I will rebuild the house of David which has fallen — Its ruins I will rebuild, And will set it up once more;

¹⁷ That so the rest of mankind may earnestly seek the Lord — Even all the Gentiles on whom my name has been bestowed.

¹⁸ Says the Lord, as he does these things, known from long ago.’

¹⁹ In my judgment, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,

²⁰ but we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.

¹⁵ A long time ago God’s men told that same message. They wrote,

¹⁶ ‘God said, “I will come back later and I will fix up David’s family again. They are like a tent that broke and fell down. But I will fix them up and make them strong again.

¹⁷ And some people from other countries will ask me for help. They are my people too. I am God. I promised to do that a long time ago, so I will do it.” ’ That’s in God’s book.”

¹⁹ And James kept talking, he said, “Those people that are turning to God are not Jews, and I think we shouldn’t make it hard for them.

²⁰ We have to write a letter to tell them not to worry about getting that young man’s operation. But we’ll tell them to follow these rules, – Don’t eat food that other people have given to sacred statues. – And don’t sleep with people that you are not married to, as if they are they are your wives or husbands. – And if somebody strangles an animal, don’t eat its meat. – And don’t eat blood.

¹⁵ And to this agreith the wordes of the Prophetes as it is written.

¹⁶ After this I will returne and wyll bylde agayne the tabernacle of David which is fallen doune and that which is fallen in dekey of it will I bilde agayne and I will set it vp

¹⁷ that the residue of men might seke after the Lorde and also the gentyls vpo whom my name is named saith the Lorde which doth all these thinges:

¹⁸ knowne vnto God are all his workes from the begynninge of the worlde.

¹⁹ Wherfore my sentence is that we trouble not them which from amonge the gentyls are turned to God:

²⁰ but that we write vnto them that they abstayne them selves from filthynes of ymages from fornicacion from straglyd and from bloude.

¹⁵ The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,

¹⁶ 'After these things I will return, and I will build again the tent of David, which has fallen down; I will set up and restore its ruins again,

¹⁷ so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, including all the Gentiles called by my name.'

¹⁸ This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times.

¹⁹ Therefore, my opinion is, that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.

²⁰ But we will write to them that they must keep away from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore my judgement is that we don’t trouble those from amongst the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

¹⁶ After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins of it; and I will set it up:

¹⁷ That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

¹⁸ Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

¹⁹ Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, who from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

²⁰ But that we write to them that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from lewdness, and from things strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up

¹⁷ that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸ “All of God’s works are known to him from eternity.

¹⁹ Therefore my judgement is that we don’t trouble those from amongst the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

¹⁵ And the words of prophets accord to him, as it is written,

¹⁶ After this I shall turn again, and build the tabernacle of David, that fell down; and I shall build again the cast-down things of it, and I shall raise it;

¹⁷ that other men seek the Lord, and all folks, on whom my name is called to help or in-called; the Lord doing this thing, saith.

¹⁸ From the world, the work of the Lord is known to the Lord.

¹⁹ For which thing I deem them that of heathen men be converted to God, to be not dis-eased or unquieted,

²⁰ but to write to them, that they abstain them from defoulings of mau-mets or of simulacra, and from forni-cation, and strangled things, and blood.

¹⁵ And the words of (the) prophets accord to him, as it is written,

¹⁶ After this I shall turn again (or After this I shall return), and build the tabernacle of David, that fell down; and I shall build again the cast-down things of it, and I shall raise it (up);

¹⁷ that other men seek the Lord, and all folks, on whom my name is called to help, or in-called, (or so that other men seek the Lord, yea, all the peoples and nations, who call on my name for help); the Lord doing this thing, saith.

¹⁸ From the (beginning of the) world, the work of the Lord is known to the Lord. (From long ago, or from the creation of the world, the Lord’s work was made known.)

¹⁹ For which thing I deem them that of (the) heathen men be converted to God, to be not dis-eased or unquieted,

²⁰ but to write to them, that they abstain them from (the) defoulings of maumets or of simulacra, and from fornication, and strangled things, and blood. (but to write to them, that they abstain themselves from the defilements of idols, that is, from food offered to idols, and from fornication, and from strangled things, and from blood.)

¹⁵ and to this agree the words of the prophets, as it hath been written:

¹⁶ After these things I will turn back, and I will build again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen down, and its ruins I will build again, and will set it upright —

¹⁷ that the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all the nations, upon whom My name hath been called, saith the Lord, who is doing all these things.

¹⁸ 'Known from the ages to God are all His works;

¹⁹ wherefore I judge: not to trouble those who from the nations do turn back to God,

²⁰ but to write to them to abstain from the pollutions of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing; and the blood;