12:16 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, “We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! 1 Return to your homes, O Israel! 2 Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!” 3 So Israel returned to their homes. 4 12:17 (Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.) 12:18 King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, 5 the supervisor of the work crews, 6 out after them, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 7 12:19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day. 12:20 When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one except the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty. 8
15:12 The whole group kept quiet 16 and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs 17 and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 15:13 After they stopped speaking, 18 James replied, 19 “Brothers, listen to me. 15:14 Simeon 20 has explained 21 how God first concerned himself 22 to select 23 from among the Gentiles 24 a people for his name. 15:15 The 25 words of the prophets agree 26 with this, as it is written,
15:16 ‘After this 27 I 28 will return,
and I will rebuild the fallen tent 29 of David;
I will rebuild its ruins and restore 30 it,
15:17 so that the rest of humanity 31 may seek the Lord,
namely, 32 all the Gentiles 33 I have called to be my own,’ 34 says the Lord, 35 who makes these things 15:18 known 36 from long ago. 37
15:19 “Therefore I conclude 38 that we should not cause extra difficulty 39 for those among the Gentiles 40 who are turning to God, 15:20 but that we should write them a letter 41 telling them to abstain 42 from things defiled 43 by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled 44 and from blood. 15:21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, 45 because he is read aloud 46 in the synagogues 47 every Sabbath.”
15:22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided 48 to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, 49 leaders among the brothers, to Antioch 50 with Paul and Barnabas. 15:23 They sent this letter with them: 51
From the apostles 52 and elders, your brothers, 53 to the Gentile brothers and sisters 54 in Antioch, 55 Syria, 56 and Cilicia, greetings! 15:24 Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused 57 you, upsetting 58 your minds 59 by what they said, 60 15:25 we have unanimously 61 decided 62 to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 15:26 who 63 have risked their lives 64 for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 65 15:27 Therefore we are sending 66 Judas and Silas 67 who will tell you these things themselves in person. 68 15:28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us 69 not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules: 70 15:29 that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols 71 and from blood and from what has been strangled 72 and from sexual immorality. 73 If you keep yourselves from doing these things, 74 you will do well. Farewell. 75
15:30 So when they were dismissed, 76 they went down to Antioch, 77 and after gathering the entire group 78 together, they delivered the letter.