Acts 15:22-41

22Then it seemed good to 1the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 2Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and 3Silas, leading men among 4the brethren, 23and they 5sent this letter by them, “6The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to 7the brethren in 8Antioch and 9Syria and 10Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, 11greetings. 24Since we have heard that 12some 13of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 14disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 2515it seemed good to us, having 16become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 1718risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent 19Judas and 20Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 21it seemed good to 22the Holy Spirit and to 23us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 24things sacrificed to idols and from 25blood and from 26things strangled and from 27fornication; 28if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, 29they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the 30congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its 31encouragement. 3232Judas and 33Silas, also being 34prophets themselves, 35encouraged and strengthened 36the brethren with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren 37in peace to those who had 38sent them out. 34[39But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] 35But 40Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and 41preaching with many others also, 42the word of the Lord.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in 43every city in which we proclaimed 44the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take 45John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had 46deserted them 47in 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 48Mark with him and sailed away to 49Cyprus. 40But Paul chose 50Silas and left, being 51committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through 52Syria and 53Cilicia, strengthening the churches.