Acts 15:10-41

10Now therefore why do you 1put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which 2neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11But we believe that we are saved through 3the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

12All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were 4relating what 5signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13After they had stopped speaking, 67James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. 148Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 15With this the words of 9the Prophets agree, just as it is written,16‘10After these things 11I will return, And I will rebuild the 12tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,1713So that the rest of 14mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles 1516who are called by My name,’1817Says the Lord, who 1819makes these things known from long ago. 19Therefore it is 20my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, 20but that we write to them that they abstain from 2122things contaminated by idols and from 23fornication and from 24what is strangled and from blood. 21For 25Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since 26he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22Then it seemed good to 27the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 28Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and 29Silas, leading men among 30the brethren, 23and they 31sent this letter by them, “32The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to 33the brethren in 34Antioch and 35Syria and 36Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, 37greetings. 24Since we have heard that 38some 39of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 40disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 2541it seemed good to us, having 42become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 4344risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent 45Judas and 46Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 47it seemed good to 48the Holy Spirit and to 49us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 50things sacrificed to idols and from 51blood and from 52things strangled and from 53fornication; 54if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, 55they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the 56congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its 57encouragement. 3258Judas and 59Silas, also being 60prophets themselves, 61encouraged and strengthened 62the brethren with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren 63in peace to those who had 64sent them out. 34[65But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] 35But 66Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and 67preaching with many others also, 68the word of the Lord.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in 69every city in which we proclaimed 70the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take 71John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had 72deserted them 73in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took 74Mark with him and sailed away to 75Cyprus. 40But Paul chose 76Silas and left, being 77committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through 78Syria and 79Cilicia, strengthening the churches.