Acts 15:23-41

23and they 1sent this letter by them, “2The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to 3the brethren in 4Antioch and 5Syria and 6Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, 7greetings. 24Since we have heard that 8some 9of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 10disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 2511it seemed good to us, having 12become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 1314risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent 15Judas and 16Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 17it seemed good to 18the Holy Spirit and to 19us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 20things sacrificed to idols and from 21blood and from 22things strangled and from 23fornication; 24if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, 25they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the 26congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its 27encouragement. 3228Judas and 29Silas, also being 30prophets themselves, 31encouraged and strengthened 32the brethren with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren 33in peace to those who had 34sent them out. 34[35But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] 35But 36Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and 37preaching with many others also, 38the word of the Lord.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in 39every city in which we proclaimed 40the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take 41John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had 42deserted them 43in 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 44Mark with him and sailed away to 45Cyprus. 40But Paul chose 46Silas and left, being 47committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through 48Syria and 49Cilicia, strengthening the churches.